Page Content
Australia-Indonesia Working Group on Agriculture and Food Cooperation (WGAFC)
The Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum established the Australia-Indonesia Working Group on Agriculture and Food Cooperation (WGAFC) in 1992. In 2006, the Working Group expanded to consider forestry cooperation, and is now referred to as the Working Group on Agriculture, Food and Forestry Cooperation (WGAFFC).
The group’s purpose is to maximise opportunities and increase and strengthen cooperation between Australia and Indonesia on trade and investment in food and agriculture. The Working Group also serves as a forum to discuss bilateral quarantine and agricultural market access issues.
WGAFFC meetings provide an important opportunity to maintain a positive relationship on agricultural and food-related issues with a key trading partner in the region. The meetings are co-chaired and facilitated by Australian and Indonesian government representatives. Industry and state government representatives are encouraged to participate and promote closer ties with Indonesian counterparts. Outcomes of the work program are presented to the Ministerial Forum.
WGAFFC has four task forces:
- Livestock and animal products
- Crops and plant products
- Agribusiness support systems, and
- Forestry.
WGAFFC has identified and raised awareness of many opportunities for further commercial cooperation in the food and agriculture sectors. It has also assisted greater commercial cooperation through discussion, negotiations and business forums.
Significant progress has been made in some industries, such as meat and livestock, where there has been close involvement and commitment from the industries in both countries.
13th Meeting of the Australia/Indonesia Working Group on Agriculture, Food & Forestry Cooperation – Queensland, Australia 28-31 August 2007.
DAFF organised the 13th Meeting of the Working Group which was held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia from 28-31 August 2007.
The meeting reviewed progress on existing cooperation projects, identified areas for future collaboration and discussed quarantine and other issues that are affecting bilateral trade in agricultural and food products between the two countries, including:
- Progressing market access for Australian meat offals, and import conditions for breeder cattle to Indonesia
- Cooperation in relation to Sanitary and Phytosanitary Capacity Building Activities, efforts to combat avian influenza, and the Australian Fumigation and Accreditation Scheme, and
- Prospects for cooperation under the new Forestry Taskforce
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Director General of Livestock Services (DGLS) and Murdoch University on training opportunities for DGLS staff in veterinary and public health was one of a number of significant achievements at this year’s WGAFFC.
The next WGAFFC meeting will be hosted by Indonesia in 2008.
Australian Co-chairs
WGAFFC
Mr Paul Morris
Executive Manager Technical Market Access
International Division
Email
Task Force on Livestock and Animal Products
Mr Bruce Bowen
General Manager Bilateral Trade (Americas, South East Asia, Subcontinent, New Zealand and the Pacific), International Division
Email
Task Force on Agribusiness Support Systems
Mr Richard Souness
General Manager Food Policy and Safety Branch
Food and Agriculture Division
Email
Task Force on Crops and Plant Products
Mr Richard Souness
General Manager Food Policy and Safety Branch
Food and Agriculture Division
Email
Task Force on Forestry
Mr Tony Bartlett
General Manager, Forest Industries Branch, Fisheries and Forestry Division
Email