Indonesia, NZ discuss food security, renewable energy cooperation

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4 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia and New Zealand discussed strengthening cooperation in food security and renewable energy during the 13th Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, on Friday (August 28).

“One of the strategic areas in Indonesia-New Zealand relations is cooperation in food security to meet the needs of Indonesian society, children, and the younger generation of Indonesia,” Foreign Minister Sugiono said in a press statement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry here on Saturday.

Sugiono and New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters also discussed concrete steps to strengthen cooperation in food security, including improving agricultural productivity and developing cattle farming.

Both sides also encouraged capacity strengthening in renewable energy, especially geothermal and solar power in Indonesia.

In addition, the two also discussed efforts to increase trade cooperation, including implementing halal certification to facilitate and increase halal product exports and imports between the two countries.

In education, the two countries agreed to continue encouraging increased scholarship opportunities for Indonesian students, especially in fields that are national development priorities.

At the meeting, Indonesia and New Zealand also affirmed their commitment to a bilateral partnership that supports increased stability, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region through collaboration in regional forums, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

Sugiono also welcomed New Zealand’s chairmanship of PIF in 2027 and expressed hope that the chairmanship would run successfully.

The JMC is the main mechanism to discuss the development of bilateral relations and explore potential for strengthening cooperation between Indonesia and New Zealand.

The meeting was also used to review and oversee the implementation of the Indonesia-New Zealand Comprehensive Partnership Action Plan for the 2025-2029 period, as well as to prepare for the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2028.