Jakarta. Indonesia is leveraging talks with Poland to advance beef and dairy trade protocols and eye European market access, as global food supply risks intensify.

The push was underscored in a meeting between Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono and Polish Deputy Agriculture Minister Małgorzata Gromadzka at the Agriculture Ministry in Jakarta.

Sudaryono said Indonesia remains open to international partnerships, including using momentum from ongoing free trade negotiations with the European Union to strengthen its food system.

“Indonesia is an open country. We are non-aligned and cooperate with all partners, including in trade and investment opportunities,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

He stressed that amid global pressures from conflicts, wars, and supply chain disruptions, cooperation must deliver tangible outcomes, from wider market access and simplified technical procedures to stronger investment and agricultural research.

“In challenging times like this, bilateral cooperation becomes essential to meet each country’s food needs,” Sudaryono said.

Technical talks covered trade opportunities and hurdles across key commodities. Poland is seeking to expand exports of beef, dairy products, wheat, and berries to Indonesia, while Jakarta emphasized strict compliance with health standards, veterinary certification, and audit processes before granting market access.

Indonesia also signaled caution on certain commodities such as poultry, citing biosecurity concerns and the need to protect domestic production. However, it remains open to imports that meet technical requirements and align with domestic demand.

Sudaryono reiterated that agriculture carries strategic importance beyond trade, given its direct link to food availability.

“Agriculture is critical because it relates to food, how we secure supply for Indonesia while ensuring other countries can meet their needs as well,” he said.

Both countries agreed to establish a technical working group to accelerate trade protocols, particularly for beef and dairy products. The initiative aims to speed up audits, harmonize standards, and enable direct trade implementation.

Cooperation is also set to expand through business-to-business engagements, investment exploration, and potential government-to-government agreements as a foundation for long-term collaboration.

Polish Deputy Agriculture Minister Małgorzata Gromadzka said cooperation with Indonesia holds strong potential given the complementary nature of both countries’ agricultural production. She added that Poland could serve as a gateway to the European market, while Indonesia offers a strategic entry point to Asia.