A $60m Indonesia-Australia Red Meat and Cattle Forum is the "first step in starting afresh" relations with Indonesia, the Cattle Council of Australia has said.
The new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd visited Indonesia last week and announced a $60m plan to boost investment in the red meat agribusiness sector, weekytimesnow.com.au reports.
Relations between Australia and Indonesia were damaged following a temporary ban on live exports in 2011. Amid claims of animal cruelty at Indonesian abattoirs, the ban lasted for approximately one month, but the trading relationship between the two regions hasn't yet recovered.
According to seedstockcentral, the funding packaging will be provided over 10 years and is aimed at increasing agricultural cooperation and boosting investment in the red meat agribusiness sector in Indonesia.
The Indonesia-Australia Red Meat and Cattle Forum will be made up of a number of representatives from the beef and cattle industry as well as senior government officials.
"In politics, there is always the opportunity to start afresh with new people," Cattle Council of Australia president, Andrew Ogilvie, said. "It is good that this dialogue with Indonesia is progressing."
Earlier this month, Indonesian Ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema toured north west Queensland with KAP leader and Kennedy MP, Bob Katter, and got to speak with producers and get a better understanding of the troubles they're facing, which other than the flow-on effect of the live export ban, include drought-like weather conditions.