The Indonesian Minister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman, supports the optimization of the agricultural, plantation and livestock sectors as the locomotive of the economy in the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) region. The support was expressed by Minister of Agriculture Amran during a dialogue with the Acting Governor of NTT, Andriko Noto Susanto, and the elected Governor of NTT, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, as well as the Regional Heads throughout NTT at the office of the Ministry of Agriculture in Jakarta. "We discussed various matters related to the optimization of the agricultural, plantation and livestock sectors as the locomotive or prime mover of the NTT economy," said Melki Laka Lena to reporters. Melki said that the Minister of Agriculture and his staff responded positively to various things needed by NTT to support the production of rice, corn and livestock such as cattle. Minister of Agriculture Amran, said Melki, also emphasized collaboration and cooperation between the central and regional governments in an effort to reduce poverty in NTT to below 10 % in the next five years and sees NTT Province with potential in the agricultural sector.
According to Melki, all of these hopes can only be achieved with collaborative work between the central, provincial and district/city governments to make a leap for NTT's progress. He expressed that the production sector in the agricultural, plantation and livestock sectors must be further boosted to increase again in the future. Melki hopes that the intentions and breakthroughs of the central government and local governments, as well as the TNI, Polri, NTT Provincial DPRD, the private sector and the support of the NTT people, can increase the level of welfare through the agricultural, plantation and livestock sectors. Previously, Melki Laka Lena also met with the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Budi Arie Setiadi, and the Head of Bappenas, Rahmat Pambudi. To the two state officials, Melki discussed opportunities for cooperation and central government assistance for NTT.
