Noodle exports promising

Noodle exports promising

JAKARTA (JP): The dumping charges by Australia will not affect
the prospects of Indonesia's instant noodle exports, an exporter
said here yesterday.

"Despite the dumping issue, the demand from European, Middle
East and ASEAN countries for instant noodles continues to
increase," said Bachtiar Yusuf, president of PT Jakarana Tama, a
producer of instant noodles.

Australian businessmen recently accused Indonesia of dumping
its noodles on the Australian market.

He added that the prices of Indonesia's instant noodles are
cheaper than Australia's.

"Indonesia's noodle production cost is low because of low-cost
labor," he said during the launching of a new product called
Noogetti.

Bachtiar said Indonesia's market demand for instant noodles
was six billion sacks worth Rp 1.5 trillion (US$674 million) last
year. (01)