The Netherlands

has its own representative office in Indonesia. The main task of this representation is to support the mission statement of the Ministry, which is:

To realise a sustainable agriculture, robust nature, a countryside where everyone feels at home and good quality food.

The office of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality works to realise this mission by strengthening institutional development and capacity building programs, mutual investment and stimulus of trade. For statistical information about the Dutch agri-food sector, please click here.

With regards to institutional development and capacity building, the Jakarta office works closely with the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, private sector and farmer groups in areas of mutual interest. We are mainly active in the following sectors; horticulture, livestock, fisheries and the processing industry. Themes for our cooperation are linking farmers to markets, strengthening horticultural research, food safety and agricultural policy, to name a few.

Avian Influenza

So far, no cases of bird flu have been reported in the Netherlands. Yet, recent outbreaks of avian infuenza ('bird flu') in Asia and certain European countries have triggered a series of measures by the Netherlands' Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.

Some human health aspects

• Until now humans have incidentally been infected with the bird flue virus (H5N1) due to intensive contact with infected poultry.
• Scientists are worried that the virus may mutate into a form that could be very dangerous for humans because it allows human-to-human infection. That could be a start of a worldwide pandemic. In that case it will take some months to develop an adequate vaccine.
• The only medicine against bird flu at this moment is the so-called Tamiflu. This anti-viral medice helps to prevent the virus from spreading inside the body or to ease the symptoms if you are already affected. The medicine only reduces the spread of the virus inside the body.
• You should be treated as soon as possible and within 48 hours of experiencing the symptoms or contact with infected poultry/persons
• Poultry meat is safe if taking normal hygienic precaution measures (such as washing hands frequently). The virus kills at 70 centigrade. Only eat well cooked, fried or baked meat.

Further information can be found on the website of the World Health Organisation  www.who.org.

Partnership on Market Access and KNIP

The Jakarta office is supporting the development of the  Partnership on Market Access. This Partnership was launched at the World Conference on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg and its objective is to improve market access of food and agricultural products from developing countries to the markets of Europe and other industrialized countries.

As part of the activities to support the Dutch policy in promoting conservation and management of nature areas and ecosystems and their biodiversity, our office works closely with local civil society organizations to promote better environmental education and awareness activities through  KNIP (Small Scale Nature Initiatives) program.

Furthermore we are monitoring the dynamics of Indonesian agriculture policies and disseminate the information on current and possible future trends of policies to Dutch agribusiness organizations to better assist them with their international marketing activities.

Last but not least our office assists Dutch and Indonesian companies in their trade and investment activities and advices them on Financial Instruments.
Socio-economic significance of Dutch Agribusiness / Food Sector:

• The agri-food complex represents a gross added value of approximately € 40,300 million or 10% of the GDP.
• The cluster provides over 660,000 jobs or 10% of the national employment.
• The Netherlands is the world's second largest net exporter of agricultural products.
• Around 75% of agricultural production is exported, 85% of this goes to the internal EU market.
• 40% of raw materials used by the Dutch food industry originate abroad.
• 60% of the total surface area of the Netherlands (land and water) is used by the agricultural sector.
• Almost 20% of all Dutch logistics is agri-logistics. One in three Lorries in domestic traffic carries agri-products.

For useful links please click here.