Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Uzbekistan will enhance bilateral cooperation in agriculture, as the two countries have huge potential in the sector.

Indonesias Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman after a meeting with Uzbekistan Deputy Prime Minister Zoir T Mirzaev, here, Monday, said that Uzbekistan was a potential export market for the countrys commodities, including coconut, palm oil, tea, rubber, coffee and pineapple.

Both countries have agreed that the cooperation would focus on various issues, including exchange of students and researchers.

Uzbekistan have also asked for transfer of cultivation technology for pepper, spices and soybean, and an exchange of soybean genetic source, Amran revealed.

Indonesia will adopt irrigation technology from Uzbekistan and has asked the country to help it promote its palm oil. Indonesia has also invited Uzbek investors to invest in the countrys sugar industry, corn and cattle farm.

Uzbekistan, situated in Central Asia and East Europe, has the potential for development in agriculture sector.

It has a total of 1 million hectares of cotton plantation and 1 million hectares of fishpond with rainfall harvesting system.

The adoption of drip irrigation system has contributed to its high production of fruits and vegetables, and exports to 80 countries.

Zoir T Mirzaev is also the Uzbekistan Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources.

Indonesia has reached self-sufficiency in rice, corn, onion and chili, and the country could effectively manage its agriculture resources to meet the food demand for its 258 million people, Amran noted.

"Uzbekistan has acknowledged Indonesias success in reaching self-sufficiency, and they want to build a partnership in the agriculture sector, intensively and with mutual benefit," the minister stressed.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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