Minister Of Trade Zulhas Hopes That The 2024 Regional Regulation Coordination Meeting Will Be Able To Improve National Exports

JAKARTA - The Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) virtually opened the Indonesian Trade Representative Coordination and Technical Meeting (Rakornis) Abroad, at Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Australia, Thursday morning, July 11, then. In his remarks, the Trade Minister hopes that every Trade Representative abroad can increase exports and encourage the realization of Indonesia's vision of Gold.

"We strongly support the implementation of the 2024 Foreign Trade Representative Coordination and Technical Meeting (Rakornis) in Melbourne. We hope that every trade representative can show his best performance. Let's realize Indonesia's golden vision with a spirit of collaboration and innovation," explained Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan in his remarks, as received in a statement, Sunday, July 14.

On the same occasion, Plt. Secretary General of the Ministry of Trade, Suhanto explained, the 2024 Foreign Exchange Coordination Meeting was held in Melbourne, Australia on July 10, 2024. The event was attended by all representatives of Indonesia's trade abroad, totaling 120 people including the WTO Ambassador in Geneva, the Head of Taipei, the Trade Attaches, the Trade Consul in Hong Kong and the ITPC Heads.

With a series of discussions and visits to several locations carried out during the event, he hopes that the technical coordination carried out will accelerate the implementation of the Ministry of Trade's programs which are the backbone of achieving Indonesia's golden target.

"Hopefully the 2024 Perwadag Rakornis will make a real contribution to achieving the predetermined target, especially increasing national exports," said Suhanto.

On this occasion, PT Tata Metal Lestari, a layered steel manufacturer from Indonesia that began operating in 2019 and has penetrated exports to 20 countries, following the mini expo held in the context of the 2024 Perwadag Coordination Meeting which was held in Melbourne10 July 12, 2024.

The Mini Expo is carried out in order to enliven the coordination meeting as a form of support for Australian trade representatives in order to support the penetration of Indonesian products to Australia and is also expected to be supported by other trade representatives in the assignment country.

Still in a series of coordination meetings, a visit was also made to one of PT Tata Metal Lestari's strategic partners, namely the roll former industry in Melbourne City on July 12, 2024 by several representatives of the Ministry of Trade, namely Plt. Secretary General Suhanto, Director General of International Trade Negotiations (PPI) Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, Plt. Director General of National Export Development (PEN) Mardiana Listyowati, Head of the Trade Policy Agency, Kasan, accompanied by the Trade Attache of the Republic of Indonesia Canberra Mr. Harris Setiawan.

Head of Government & Public Relations of PT Tata Metal Lestari, Maharany Putri explained, the IA-CEPA has had a significant impact on the steel industry in the country and Australia by increasing opportunities for trade in goods and services, investment and economic cooperation between the two countries.

According to him, with the opening of import duties from 15% to 0% for Hot Rolled Coil (HRC) and Cold Rolled Coil (CRC) as much as 250,000 tons in the first year and an increase of 5% every year, the competitiveness of the final product in both countries and even in third countries will be created.

Innovations, knowledge transfers as well as research and development in the armored steel industry to light steel construction were also activated as a manifestation of elements of economic cooperation that would inevitably lead to investment.

"This agreement has proven to be able to increase market access by reducing barriers and costs for business actors who export to Australia. On the other hand, this agreement also opens up potential resources for the downstream Indonesian steel industry by showing better cost efficiency and price justice. Products can finally also be sent to third countries, "explained Maharany while accompanying Suhanto in Melbourne City, Friday, July 12.

He added that until now PT Tata Metal Lestari has exported armored steel as raw material for structurally lightweight steel products and metal tiles for the construction of houses in Australia, which has increased their demand quite rapidly.

Maharany hopes that with the 2024 Perwadag Rakornis and visits to PT Tata Metal Lestari's strategic partners, it can be a testament to the greatness of collaboration between the government and Indonesian business actors which aims to encourage an increase in Indonesia's non-oil and gas export performance, including an increase in Indonesia's exports of steel products to the global market. And of course, including monitoring and evaluation which are able to measure effectiveness from time to time.