TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In a bid to stabilize the price of beef in the market, the Indonesian Trade Ministry has issued permits for the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) to import beef from New Zealand. As many as 10,000 tons of prime cut beef will be imported from the country.

Acting Director General of Foreign Trade of the Trade Ministry Karyanto Suprih said that Bulog was still comparing the price of beef that will be imported.

"The permit has been issued. We’re still waiting for the realization. Bulog must now check the price to ensure that it won’t be too high,” Karyanto said on Friday (25/9).

New Zealand was chosen because the price of beef from New Zealand is lower than the price of beef from Australia and the beef is also free from diseases.

Permit to import beef from New Zealand is based on the proposal from Trade Minister Thomas Lembong in August this year. The minister sent a letter to the State-owned Enterprises Ministry and Agriculture Ministry to give permit to import 10,000 tons of frozen beef from New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution said that the beef had been ordered and is estimated to arrive in Indonesia next month.

"It will arrive before the end of the month,” Darmin said.

DEVY ERNIS | INGE KLARA SAFITRI