The signed agreements include a commitment to move to electronic certification and export schemes for New Zealand onions and Indonesian pineapples.
New Zealand and Indonesia have signed a new export agreement for onions and pineapples and agreed to a broader cooperation pact to boost two-way trade.
Minister of Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay and Indonesian Quarantine Agency (IQA) Chairman Sahat Manaor Pangbean signed the latest cooperation agreement between the two countries in Auckland on July 9.
“This cooperation agreement paves the way for New Zealand and Indonesia to expand their NZ$3 billion two-way trade, further cooperate on food safety, animal health and plant health, and build capacity and technical expertise,” Mr McCrae said.
New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries and IQA have also signed a new electronic export certification arrangement and two export schemes for New Zealand onions and Indonesian pineapples, aimed at further expanding two-way trade.
McCray said the two countries would work together to replace paper-based export certificates with electronic ones to streamline border procedures and get products to market faster.
“The new onion export scheme will allow New Zealand growers to continue exporting more than NZ$40 million of high-quality onions to Indonesia without fumigation which could affect quality,” Mr McCrae said.
“This is a major step forward that will save New Zealand producers time and money and demonstrates Indonesia’s confidence in New Zealand’s strong biosecurity processes.”
Similarly, plans for the first-ever export of Indonesian pineapples to New Zealand will provide more choice to local consumers.
The pineapple export plan will take effect immediately, while the onion plan is due to take effect later this year.
“The government has an ambitious target of doubling trade volumes within 10 years and expanding two-way trade with Indonesia will play a key role in achieving this goal,” Mr McCrae said.
“The documents signed today demonstrate the Government’s commitment to strengthening trading relationships, doubling export values and increasing earnings for producers to support New Zealand’s economic growth.”
