Makassar, South Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Singapore held the 11th agribusiness meeting here on Wednesday expected to boost exports of agricultural commodities to Singapore.

Director General of Processing and Marketing of Agricultural Products Yusni Emilia Harahap said the meeting is expected to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the exports of fruits , vegetables and fishery products from Indonesia to that neighboring country.

Previous meeting in September 2014 was on marketing of agricultural products, Yusni said.

The meeting was held in Makassar as it is the capital city of the province of South Sulawesi, a farm commodity center, he said.

"Sulsawei is the biggest producer of cacao and the largest contributor to the countrys exports of cacao," he said.

Indonesia is the third largest cacao producer in the world after the Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Meanwhile, CEO of Agri-food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore Ms Tan Poh Hong said the opportunity is wide open for cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore in the agricultural sector.

Singapore is large importer of fresh fruits , vegetable and fishes.

Indonesia has the biggest opportunity to win larger market in Singapore with the advantage of being close with no problem in transport, he said.

Singhaporer has so far imports fruits, vegetable and fishery products mainly from Indonesia, China and Vietnam.

"The three countries compete to win the market of agribusiness products in Singapore," he added.

He said Singapore has five airlines to facilitate imports of farm commodities from Indonesia.

In addition, Indonesia has three airlines that could be used to transport farm export commodities to Singapore including Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air and Air Asia Indonesia.

Yusni said without the support of the airlines export import would be difficult.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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