Albacos buys Aceh coffee

JAKARTA (JP): Albacos Coffee California of the U.S. is to buy 1,000 tons of arabica coffee beans per month from Central Aceh, a local official said.

The head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Aceh provincial office, Djamil Usman, said in Banda Aceh yesterday that the purchase commitment was part its trade and investment agreement with local company Genap Mupakat.

Djamil said the American company would also invest in the regency to develop the arabica coffee. He did not elaborate.

"A director of the U.S. firm is now in Central Aceh to see the development of coffee plantations in the district," he said.

In central Aceh there is about 65,000 hectares of coffee plantations, with 85 percent comprising Arabica coffee. The district produces 30,000 tons of coffee beans a year. (bnt)