TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture is exploring cooperation with the Indonesian government. The Netherlands plans to contribute to the development of Indonesia's capital city by supplying vegetables through agricultural cooperation.

"We will be happy if we can share agricultural technology. We want to contribute and work together with ministries and corporations here," said Jan Kees Goet, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Netherlands, when visiting the East West Seed Indonesia (EWINDO) company in Purwakarta, Thursday, March 12.

Jan Kees Goet said that food technology in the Netherlands is advanced, claiming they have one of the best seed industries in the world.

As a friend, the Netherlands wants to offer agricultural technology transfer to a number of parties in Indonesia.

"We hope to contribute and collaborate better in the seed development industry," Jan Kees Goet said.

The Agriculture Ministry's director-general of horticulture, Suwandi, said that cooperation between the Netherlands and Indonesia in the agricultural sector could take the form of food supply for the new Capital City.

According to Suwandi, the plan to relocate the new capital will include relocating 2 million people, thus the need for food—including vegetables, will increase.

"The cooperation is in the form of technology transfer and training for researchers to make superior seeds, especially horticultural seeds," he said.

The Netherlands has also increased cooperation with local vegetable seed company PT East West Seed Indonesia (EWINDO). "I am amazed and impressed with the technology developed here," said Jan Kees Goet.

The delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands is visiting Indonesia. King Willem Alexander, Queen Maxima and a number of Dutch ministers are on a mission to bring the parallel economy to Indonesia.

Hisyam Luthfiana (Kontributor)