PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA — Indonesian Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman welcomed New Zealand’s Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Investment, and Forestry, Todd McClay, at the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday (Aug. 7, 2025). The meeting marks the revival of bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector, which had been dormant since 2017.
During the visit, both ministers signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Agricultural Cooperation. The agreement aims to strengthen mutually beneficial partnerships (win-win solutions) and promote balanced trade between the two countries.
“We welcomed the New Zealand Agriculture Minister today, bringing fresh momentum to our collaboration. We hope this partnership will be a win-win and create more balanced trade between our nations,” Amran said, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from the Ministry’s official website.
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Indonesia is targeting increased exports of key commodities to New Zealand, including crude palm oil (CPO), coconut, rubber, cocoa, and coffee. As part of the promotion effort, Amran presented premium coffee from Toraja and Lampung, which received a warm response from the New Zealand delegation.
Amran emphasized that this cooperation is a strategic step to face global challenges while strengthening Indonesia’s agricultural export position in the international market. “Our products, such as CPO, are number one in the world. We also offered coconut, and they welcomed it positively,” he noted.
Minister McClay expressed New Zealand’s commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with Indonesia, particularly in agriculture and agricultural technology. He highlighted Indonesia’s importance as a partner in supporting food security and shared economic growth.
“Through this cooperation, our two countries will exchange ideas and innovations to boost food production and self-sufficiency, including providing meals for schoolchildren,” McClay stated.
McClay also praised Indonesia’s rapid progress in the agricultural sector under Amran’s leadership, especially in reducing import dependency and increasing national productivity. He extended a personal invitation for Amran to visit New Zealand and witness its agricultural innovations firsthand.
In 2024, Indonesia’s main agricultural exports to New Zealand included coconut (USD 161 million), rubber (USD 35.9 million), ornamental plants (USD 4.4 million), and palm oil (USD 3.2 million). (P3)
