In the last stage of the mission to Asia, Minister Tereza Cristina (Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) met this Monday (20) with the Minister of Agriculture of Indonesia, Amran Sulaiman, to discuss the opening of the Brazilian meat market to the Asian country.
During the meeting, the minister asked for a response on the technical mission that visited slaughterhouses in several Brazilian states in April 2018. Tereza Cristina highlighted that Brazil is able to meet Indonesians' demand for animal protein, mainly beef, being a supplier alternative and with cheaper prices compared to meat from Australia, where most of the meat consumed in the country comes from.
“It’s a country that has 270 million people. If you add Vietnam and Indonesia, we will have a market of almost 300 million people who can consume various Brazilian agricultural products”, said Tereza Cristina.
Special fruits and palm oil
Minister Sulaiman called for a reduction in tariffs on palm oil, imported by Brazil.
Brazil charges 20% when importing palm oil. The Indonesians want 2.5%, the same percentage applied to soybeans. They argue that they buy Brazilian soy in large quantities, they are the only exporters of palm oil to Brazil and the tariff adjustment will benefit small Indonesian producers. According to Tereza Cristina, the government is evaluating import tariffs and will analyze the country's request.
According to the minister, they want to expand their export range, with the sale of special fruits, such as mangosteen and snake fruit.
At a meeting with the Brazil-Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), businessmen offered to unlock the import of halal meat (which follows Islamic principles in production and slaughter).
Cooperation
The Indonesians – both the Minister of Agriculture and businesspeople – mentioned interest in cooperation projects in agricultural sectors, such as livestock genetics.
The minister stated that Embrapa will be able to help in the formulation of projects.
Cellulose
The Brazilian delegation's last engagement was a working dinner hosted by Indonesian businesspeople with business in Brazil and the Kadin Brazil Committee, chaired by Anderson Tanoto.
Global president of the RGE Group (Royal Golden Eagle), an Indonesian conglomerate in the cellulose sector, Tanoto confirmed the installation of the company's units in the interior of São Paulo. The group already has operations in Bahia.
Tereza Cristina reaffirmed that investments in the cellulose sector allowed the development of poor areas of Mato Grosso do Sul, her state of origin, with the creation of jobs and quality of life.
