Minister of Trade Zulhas: Timor Leste Asks to Be Accelerated to Become a Full Member of ASEAN

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

SEMARANG - Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan said that Timor Leste when meeting Indonesia, in the series of the 55th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM), expressed his desire to be accelerated to become a full member of ASEAN.

"Timor Leste requests that it be accelerated as a full member of ASEAN," said Zulhas, the Trade Minister's nickname, as quoted from Antara, Monday, August 21.

East Timor's Minister of Trade and Industry Filipus Nino Pereira attended a number of meetings at the 55th AEM series in Semarang, Central Java on 19-22 August 2023, as an observer and held a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan on Sunday (20/8).

Filipus to Zulhas also asked the Indonesian Ministry of Trade to provide training to Timor Leste workers in matters related to exports, product design, and others,

Then, Timor Leste also expects Indonesia's support for its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Apart from that, said Zulhas, Indonesia and Timor Leste also discussed a trade agreement on the border. The two countries want to increase trade activities at the border, as the provisions that already exist between Indonesia and Malaysia.

"For example, with Malaysia, you are allowed to buy staples, oil, coconut, rice, and others in a month. Now this is not yet with Timor Leste, how much is free trade on the border," said Zulhas.

In the bilateral meeting, the Indonesian Minister of Trade was accompanied by the Director General of International Trade Negotiations, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono; Special Staff of the Minister of Trade for International Trade Agreements, Bara Khrisna Hasibuan; ASEAN Negotiations Director, Dina Kurniasari; and Director of Bilateral Negotiations, Johni Martha.