Jakarta. Indonesia plans to import 580,000 high-grade poultry breeding chickens, known as grandparent stock (GPS), worth around $20 million from the United States as part of a recently signed Reciprocal Trade Agreement between the two countries.

The imports are intended to meet urgent demand from domestic farmers for superior poultry genetics that are not currently available in Indonesia, said Haryo Limanseto, spokesperson for the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, on Sunday.

“GPS is critically needed by domestic poultry farmers as the primary source of genetic stock, and Indonesia does not yet have GPS breeding facilities,” Haryo said in a statement.

Beyond poultry breeding stock, Indonesia will also open market access for a range of other US animal products. These include breeding cattle, feeder and beef cattle, pigs, horses, sheep, and goats.

Indonesia has also committed to regularly importing between 120,000 and 150,000 tons of mechanically deboned meat annually to supply the processed food industry, including products such as sausages and nuggets.

Haryo stressed that the expanded imports under the trade agreement would not undermine local livestock producers, as the government remains committed to maintaining price stability and balancing national supply.

“The government continues to prioritize the protection of domestic farmers and safeguard the balance of national chicken supply and prices. There is no policy that sacrifices the domestic industry,” he said.

Add as a preferred source on Google +