NUSA DUA, INDONESIA - Ministers and officials from 19 farm exporting countries are set to meet in Indonesia to give impetus to world trade talks amid the global economic slump, officials said.

The Cairns Group of major agricultural exporters including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia and South Africa are expected to focus on harmful export subsidies paid by rich countries and growing signs of protectionism.

The ministers are hoping to provide a political boost to concluding the world trade talks, said Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean, who will chair the meeting.

"This meeting will send a strong political message on the need to fight protectionism and conclude World Trade Organization negotiations," Crean said in a statement ahead of the talks.

"Now is the time for political engagement if we are going to drive the Doha Round to a successful conclusion.

"Only concluding the Doha Round can eradicate market-distorting subsidies such as dairy export subsidies that have re-emerged this year."

Washington said last month it would bring back export incentives for its dairy industry after its international market share was hit by the European Union's move to reintroduce such subsidies for European farmers.

The moves undermine commitments from the stalled Doha round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks to eliminate all export subsidies by 2013.

The Cairns Group, which accounts for more than 25 percent of world agricultural exports, advocates deep cuts to all tariffs and the elimination of export subsidies, saying they reward inefficiency and stymie world markets.

The Doha round of talks, which started at the end of 2001 in the Qatari capital, aims to boost international commerce by removing trade barriers and subsidies.

But a deal has so far proved elusive as countries are reluctant to open up their markets or reduce financial support to farmers.

Disagreements -- primarily between India and the United States over tariffs -- scuppered the last series of negotiations between WTO ministers in July, plunging the fate of the broader Doha round into uncertainty.

US Trade Representative Ron Kirk and WTO Director General Pascal Lamy will be attending the three-day Cairns Group meeting, which is taking place in the luxury beach resort of Nusa Dua on the holiday island of Bali.

The new trade minister of India, as well as representatives from Japan, China and the European Union will also attend.

The Cairns Group is comprised of Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Uruguay.