During the visit, Mr Burke will be accompanied by representatives of Australian primary industries including Meat and Livestock Australia, the Cattle Council of Australia, Australian Livestock Exporters Council, Australian Citrus Growers and the fishing industry.

Key issues for discussion are expected to include joint efforts to stop illegal fishing, to enhance forestry and fisheries conservation and expand agriculture market access.

“Australia has a strong agricultural trade relationship with both Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and we expect that trade to grow,” Mr Burke said.

“Australia provides assistance to Papua New Guinea in quarantine capacity-building, fisheries management, combating illegal logging and sustainable forest management.”

Australia is the major supplier of wheat to Indonesia, exporting around 1.5 million tonnes in 2007 and is also Indonesia's major supplier of live cattle, exporting over 520,000 head in 2007.

Australia is Papua New Guinea’s largest source of imports and exports. Agricultural exports alone to Papua New Guinea totalled $133 million in 2007.

“I will also emphasise Australia’s interest in access to the Indonesian market and our interest in collaboration on capacity-building initiatives across the quarantine, agriculture, fishing and forestry sectors,” he said.

Mr Burke will undertake a field visit to a major cattle feedlot handling Australian Brahman and Brahman-cross cattle, a facility processing Australian wheat, as well as forestry and fisheries research projects.