It would not be necessary to import beef if we were able to produce beef locally for our population."Bandung, West Java (ANTARA News) - Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said he supports Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan`s plan to acquire cattle farms in Australia to solve the beef problem in the country.
"By acquiring cattle farms in Australia, we will be able to overcome the shortage of beef in the country," he added on Friday.
He admitted that beef produced locally is not sufficient to meet domestic demands, and therefore, the country should look into importing beef.
"It would not be necessary to import beef if we were able to produce beef locally for our population," he said.
Gita added that the plan to acquire farms in Australia is a good step with regard to supporting domestic food resilience.
Dahlan Iskan said he would immediately appoint a state-owned company to acquire one million hectares of land in Australia for cattle breeding.
"Two companies are currently competing to realise the plan, and they are PT Pupuk Indonesia and PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (RNI). We will select one of them. The decision will be made next week," he added.
Dahlan mentioned that the plan has to be implemented soon to meet both medium term and long term demands for beef.
Funds amounting to Rp300 billion are required for the acquisition of cattle farms.
According to the plan, the land would be used for breeding cows, which would later be sent to Indonesia for fattening.
Initially, the plan was to form a consortium of three state-owned companies-PT Bulog, PT Pupuk Indonesia, and PT RNI-for the development of farms. However, Dahlan said the task would be completed quickly if only one company was involved. This way, bureaucratic procedures of various companies will not create obstacles along the way.
(Reported by Ajat Sudrajat/H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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