From May 18 to 24, 2025, a delegation from the Import Risk Analysis (IRA) unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry (MALFF) of Timor-Leste visited Surabaya, East Java. This working visit was held to explore opportunities for increasing imports of livestock products, particularly from East Java. The delegation visited five poultry farming businesses that are key players in East Java, namely PT. Japfa Comfeed Indonesia, PT. Super Unggas Jaya (SUJA), PT. Multipakan Jaya Sentosa (MPJS), PT. Tabasham Farm, and PT. Gold Coin Indonesia (GCI). East Java leads the nation in poultry production, with 131.85 million layer chickens (32% of the national total) producing 2.02 million tons of eggs. The 418.74 million broiler chicken population produces 510,177 tons of meat (2nd nationally). The 20.97 million free-range chicken population produces 21,300 tons of eggs. Thus, East Java has a surplus of poultry. With its infrastructure and proximity to Timor-Leste, East Java is poised to capitalize on promising export opportunities in the poultry sector.
The long-standing collaboration between Indonesia and Timor-Leste in the livestock sector is evidenced by the Memorandum of Understanding and Technical Arrangement on Livestock and Animal Health signed in 2022. The central government has expressed support for this initiative through its cooperation and the creation of export opportunities, as stated by the Director of Livestock Product Downstreaming at the Ministry of Agriculture. In 2024, there was a 7.88% increase in the value of Indonesia's livestock exports to Timor-Leste compared to the previous year. This demonstrates that Indonesia's livestock products meet the technical, animal health, and business preferences of Timor-Leste. This visit represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the two countries in the livestock sector and to explore new export opportunities to the Southeast Asian market.
