US Hopes to Double Agricultural Exports to Indonesia

The United States has hoped to double its exports of farm products to Indonesia making it the ninth-largest market, US Ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel said at the Indonesia Expo 2011 here Wednesday.
"Indonesia’s market-based economy is growing well and thus makes me hope that the farm product exports from my country can be maximized," Scot said.
He also said that the partnership between the US and Indonesia in raising the export of farm products was one of the points discussed by President Barack Obama and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the state visit of the US President to Indonesia last November.
Meanwhile, Michael Scuse, the USDA Acting Under Secretary, said that Indonesia would continue as an important US trade partner due to the fastest growing economy of Indonesia.
"In the past 15 years, agricultural trade between our countries has boomed, and Indonesia is one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing economies with a vibrant business climate and upwardly mobile, expanding middle class, providing opportunities to expand exports of US food and agricultural goods and stimulate investment," Scuse said.


Through the comprehensive partnership between the US and Indonesia, Scuse said both countries were looking forward to expanding trade, investment and commercial relationships as well as creating great chances for the economy.
Food and Hotel Indonesia Expo 2011 was held for four days until Saturday and participated in by more than 1,000 companies from 29 countries, including Germany, the US, Turkey, Singapore, Korea, Brunei Darussalam, besides Indonesia.
In the opening remarks of the Indonesian Minister of Culture and Tourism which was conveyed by General Director of Tourism Destination Development Firmansyah, he said that the expo was a kind of effort in increasing the number of tourists to Indonesia which was scheduled to reach 7.7 million in 2011.
"If the target is achieved, we will try to increase the number of foreign tourists to Indonesia to 10 million by 2014. Therefore, food service companies and hotels play an important role in meeting the target," Jero said.