The US ambassador made the remarks when witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Tempeh Forum and the Indonesian Soybean Association in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday.
"I am delighted to be visiting the beautiful city of Bogor to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Tempeh Forum and the Indonesian Soybean Association to further promote the consumption of tempeh and tofu," he said in a statement posted on the official website of the US Embassy.
He said that tempeh was a good for agricultural trade. Agricultural trade between the United States and Indonesia is at record levels and constitutes an important portion of our overall bilateral trade.
Indonesia exported $4.3 billion of agricultural products to the US in 2013. The U.S. exported a record 2.9 billion dollars in 2013. So Indonesia enjoys a substantial surplus, he said.
Indonesia imports up to 90 percent of its soybean requirement, with 75 percent of these imports coming from the United States.
"We fully support the trade in soybeans as well as other agricultural goods, and I want to assure you that the United States is a reliable source safe, quality food," Ambassador Blake said.
"The food we send to Indonesia is the same food we eat in the United States and serve to our own children," he added.
Just as important, U.S. soybeans bring real advantages to Indonesians. The same way that Indonesia provides the United States with high quality, low-cost food products like shrimp, cocoa, or coffee, U.S. soybeans ensure that Indonesians have access to high-quality foods at the lowest possible cost.
Trade is especially important to the tempeh industry, which is dominated by small holders. These food producers, who labor under demanding conditions, know that the value of their work is ensured by reliable access to high-quality, low-cost soybeans.
The United States is supportive and appreciative of the work done at Rumah Tempeh on behalf of Indonesias tempeh manufacturers. Food safety, novel uses of soybeans, and product promotion improve tempeh producers bottom line.
"I am also pleased that the National Agency for Drug and Food Control (BPOM) will award a license to Rumah Tempeh to operate as a commercial food manufacturer, thereby recognizing that Rumah Tempeh meets hygienic food manufacturing standards, giving credence to its food science extension activities," Blake said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
