Food supplies a major concern for RI

Food supplies a major concern for RI

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Production and Distribution Hartarto
said yesterday that food and power supplies are critical issues
that Indonesia will face over the next decade,

Even though Indonesia has posted 7 percent economic growth
per year for the last 28 years, 14 million people still live
below the poverty line, Hartarto told a Queensland trade
delegation.

Queensland Economic Development Minister Dough Slack, who led
the delegation, said that Indonesia's drive to sustain economic
growth and lift the people's average income provides
opportunities for Queensland exporters.

"Queensland and Indonesia have many things in common. We can
assist in exporting our agricultural products and services,
among other exports, to Indonesia to assist in their drive for
economic growth," Slack said.

Representatives from the Queensland Sugar Corporation,
Bundaberg Sugar, James Hardie Industries, Evans Deakin Industries
as well as the hotel services and legal sectors are attending
the six-day mission to Jakarta and Central Java.

The Queensland Sugar Corporation said it is ready to sell more
sugar to Indonesia's refineries, while Bundaberg Sugar said it is
ready to provide expertise in the establishment of sugar mills.

At the meeting, Hartarto said that Indonesia is planning to
relocate its sugar industry from the island of Java to less
populated areas in the country.

Delegation member Trevor Perett offered Hartarto the
Queensland government's assistance in mounting an inspection tour
of Queensland's primary industries sector.

Meanwhile, AUSTA Electric has moved a step closer to a
memorandum of understanding with Indonesia's state-owned power
generation and transmission company, PLN, following talks between
the two companies yesterday.

Slack said that AUSTA is positioning itself to assist
Indonesia in generating much needed electricity for the country.
(hen)