REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa rebuted news by an Australian media, ABC News, which mentioned Indonesia was the cause behind Australian cattle ranchers' bankrupcy. 

ABC News pointed Indonesian self sufficiency in beef production as the cause of crisis of ranchers in some parts of Australia in 2011. Perum Bulog has been choosen as importer meat to stabilize prices in the market, specifically in Jakarta and West Java. 

"It is exaggerated to say that Indonesia has made Australian cattle ranchers bankrupt," Natalegawa said on Saturday. Approach on economic cooperation should base on principle of mutual benefit for sustainable cooperation. He added, the approach between Indonesia and Australia should not only emphasize in cattle trade, but also investment.

Indonesia, Natalegawa said, was eager to build cattle industry and trade capacity as well. Therefore, Indonesia invited Australia to increase cattle production in Indonesia.

Queensland Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries John McVeigh and also Northern Territory's Minister for Primary Industry came to Jakarta to lobby Indonesian government to recovery cattle trade. 

"The ban on livestock export trade two years ago cause concern and confusion among Indonesian partners in the beef industry," McVeigh said as reported by ABC News.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Suswono (one name -ed) expressed his optimism that Indonesia could achieve self-sufficiency in beef production in 2014. 

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