Ethiopia shows interest in rubber plantations
Dec 22, 2006 (BOGOR, W. Java) — Ethiopia is keen to build rubber plantations in the African country following an increase in the price of rubber in the world market.
In this context it has sent five of its officials to Indonesia’s National Nucleus Project (NNP) for training at the Bogor-based Indonesian Plantation Research Institute (LRPI).
“We will build 300 hectares of rubber plantations as a pilot project after we have conducted a comparative study and completed training at the LRPI in Bogor,” NNP Ethiopia General Manager Halle Selassie Tekie said at the conclusion of the two-week training program said here on Thursday.
The occasion was attended by LRPI Executive Director Didiek Hadjar Goenadi and officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Agriculture Ministry.
Tekie said he chose Indonesia for the training because of its huge potential in the world rubber industry.
Meanwhile, Executive Director of LRPI Didiek Hadjar Goenadi said the cooperation would pave the way for Indonesia to expand its rubber market.
Indonesia’s current main competitor in the industry such as Malaysia had expanded its market to Peru and Costa Rica.
The Ethiopian NNP delegation’s visit to Indonesia, Didiek said, would be followed by the establishment of a government-to-government cooperation in the building of rubber plantations.
“We have to compete with Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. They (Ethiopia) can choose one of these countries. As they have chosen us, we can get them as partner,” he added.
Under the cooperation, Indonesia would provide rubber seedlings to be raised in plantations in Ethiopia.
Indonesia, Didiek said, could also provide experts and technology.
“Furthermore, we can also provide equipment for maintenance, rubber sap tapping and processing, which would provide us with a new market,” he said.
According to Didiek, the delegation is also interested in having a similar program on the building of coffee plantations.
An African desk official at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Dicky Fabrian said, Indonesia has better political ties with African countries including Ethiopia.
“Therefore, we have to benefit from trade and economic cooperation, as well as in research. African countries regard us as a big brother as the spirit of the 1955 Asia Africa Conference in Bandung had inspired freedom movements in these countries,” he said.
(ANTARA)