Special Report: Global Financial Crisis

    JAKARTA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's exports of agricultural product is expected to increase by 16 percent this year, a local newspaper said here Monday.

    "We believe we can raise our income from exports to 21.68 billion U.S. dollars from last year's 18.85 billion U.S. dollars. This is based on the fact there are new markets available and we believe main commodities prices will rise," Herdrajat, the Agriculture Ministry's plantation protection director, was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.

    The director cited China, the Middle East and India as some of the new export markets.

    "Last year's achievement, which surpassed the original target of 11.55 billion U.S. dollars income set in early 2008, was also a big factor in our confidence to increase this year's exports" headed.

    Herdrajat expected demand would pick up from the new markets, while commodity prices would also recover, providing an eventual boost for the industry.

    Still, he said it was vital for the government to immediately disburse the stimulus package, in particular the parts designated for the development of agriculture and plantation infrastructure.