ERIA and New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries Explore Co-operation on Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture

Jakarta, 2 September 2026: ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe welcomed Mr Ray Smith, Director-General of New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries, to the ERIA Office in Jakarta.

The New Zealand delegation also included Mr Stuart Anderson, Deputy Director-General of Biosecurity New Zealand.

The courtesy visit provided an opportunity to exchange views on ERIA-New Zealand co-operation, particularly in the areas of food security, biosecurity, nutrition, dairy products, trade development, and export and import opportunities.

President Watanabe reaffirmed ERIA's appreciation for its long-standing relationship with New Zealand and highlighted ERIA's ongoing work to support ASEAN through research, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building.

The discussion also covered ERIA's support for the ASEAN Implementation Plan for Regenerative and Resilient Agriculture Systems and the ASEAN Guidelines on Biochar Production and Application, as well as opportunities to strengthen sustainable agriculture and food systems across the region.

Both sides also exchanged views on trade digitalisation, the blue economy, critical minerals, and regional energy security, including ERIA's work on ASEAN joint oil stockpiling.

The meeting concluded with ERIA reaffirming its readiness to deepen co-operation with New Zealand and relevant ASEAN bodies in support of practical regional initiatives.