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Uruguay, Paraguay seek beef export opportunities in Indonesia
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Stronger ties – Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Rosan P. Roeslani (right) receives a book on Uruguay from the country’s foreign minister, Rodolfo Nin Novoa (left), during a meeting at Kadin headquarters in Jakarta on Oct.11. (Antara/Sidi)
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wo South American countries, Uruguay and Paraguay, are exploring the possibility of exporting beef to Indonesia, highlighting their prime commodity’s high global demand.
Uruguay Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa said his country was one of the top premium beef exporters in Latin America. For the Asian market, Uruguay exported its beef products mainly to China, he explained.
The minister admitted Uruguay did not have any experience in halal meat business procedures required by Indonesia as a majority Muslim country.
“We are calling on Indonesian businesspeople to invest in the development of halal slaughter houses in Uruguay using our free trade facilities,” Novoa said, claiming that his country’s foreign investment permit relaxation was one of the highest in South America.
The minister was speaking after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between American economic bloc Mercosur and Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Former Paraguay ambassador to Indonesia Cesar Esteban Grillon said halal meat supply was no longer a problem for his country because it had started its halal meat exportation five years ago with three countries, namely Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.
“Even Gulf carrier Qatar Airlines only imports beef from us,” said Grillon, who is also Mercosur Indonesia chairman.
Uruguay and Paraguay produced 600,000 and 300,000 tons of beef respectively in 2015. Both countries have Russia as the main market.
Indonesia’s beef import amounts to around 600,000 tons per year. To diversify beef supplies, Indonesia brought in beef from Australia, and the Trade Ministry opened trade opportunities with other countries, including Mexico and Brazil. (ebf)
