Australia-Indonesia Working Group on Agriculture, Food and Forestry Cooperation (WGAFFC)
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 and further improve the 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 a number of dialogues/taskforces including:
- quarantine
- crops and plant products (including the agribusiness support system taskforce)
- livestock and animal products
- forestry.
WGAFFC has identified, and raised awareness of, many opportunities for further commercial cooperation in the food and agriculture sectors. It has also assisted in increasing commercial linkages 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.
14th Meeting of the Australia/Indonesia Working Group on Agriculture, Food & Forestry Cooperation – Surakarta, Indonesia 25-28 August 2008.
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 Indonesia and Australia on Collaborative Animal, Fish and Plant Health and Quarantine Activities was one of a number of significant achievements at 14th WGAFFC.
The 15th WGAFFC meeting is scheduled to be hosted by Australia in 2009.
Australian Co-chairs
WGAFFC
Mr Paul Morris
Executive Manager Technical Market Access
Trade and Market Access Division
Email
Task Force on Livestock and Animal Products
Mr Paul Morris
Executive Manager Technical Market Access
Trade and Market Access Division
Email
Task Force on Crops and Plant Products
Mr Paul Ross
General Manager Bilateral Trade Branch
Trade and Market Access Division
Email
Task Force on Forestry
Mr John Talbot
General Manager Forestry
Climate Change Division
Email