Canadian agricultural minister due here

Canadian agricultural minister due here

JAKARTA (Antara): Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri- Food (AAFC) Lyle Vanclief will be visiting Jakarta on April 12 and 13, a press release of the Canadian Embassy in Jakarta said yesterday.

Minister Vanclief will make a special stop over in Indonesia during his current visit in Asia and reaffirm Canada's commitment to supporting Indonesia in the current economic crisis.

Vanclief's visit follows last week's Canadian special mission led by Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific Affairs Raymond Chan and Secretary for International Finance Institutions Jim Peterson.

The mission announced a C$280 million support package, a reinforcement of Canada's efforts to assist Indonesia towards structural reforms and to help limit the social impact on the population.

"By making Canadian wheat available through significant export credits, the Canadian government hopes to support Indonesia's own efforts to address the crucial question of food security," said Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia Gary J. Smith.

Accompanied by Mike Gifford, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister (Market and Industry Service Branch, AAFC) and Suzanne Vinet, Acting Director General, International Markets Bureau, AAFC), Minister Vanclief will meet with Minister of Agriculture Justika Sjarifudin Baharsjah and Minister of Food, Drugs and Horticulture Haryanto Dhanutirto.