Not Only Europe And America, Indonesia Aims For The Export Market To Africa

Minister of Trade Budi Santoso. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) revealed that the government is also targeting a new export market to Africa. So that Indonesia does not only depend on Europe and America.

Minister of Trade (Mendag) Budi Santoso said the government is trying to expand access to export markets and cooperation to other regions such as Africa and Latin America.

"We don't just rely on European countries, America, but we are also Latin American countries. Later after that we try to enter Africa," he said when met at Balai Kartini, Jakarta, Tuesday, August 12.

Budi said the government had also begun exploring negotiations with countries in Africa. However, he said Africa tends to want negotiations to be carried out regionally, not directly to destination countries.

Furthermore, Budi said that if negotiations were carried out regionally, it would take a long time to negotiate, and reach an agreement.

"We have started now exploring negotiations. Previously we started negotiations with Africa. But Africa wants the area. The area is long. Yes, because there must be an agreement from member countries," he said.

Therefore, Budi said Indonesia wanted to try to establish bilateral cooperation. He said that so far those who have stated that they are ready to carry out bilateral negotiations with Indonesia are South Africa.

"Well, we want to try bilateral. Yesterday South Africa said it was ready to carry out bilateral negotiations," he said.

Furthermore, Budi said this step was taken as an effort so that Indonesia had a wider market diversification. Thus, the opportunity for exports of domestic products is also wider.

"So we want to try our market anywhere, yes. Because of our potential, our industry is big," said Budi.

As previously reported, the Director General of International Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Trade, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, said that Indonesia will have three trade agreements with three countries in the form of CEPA, namely Chile, Peru and Canada this year.

"Well, so that later when this is finished in 2025 we will have three CEPA agreements with three countries. This means that with Chile, then now with Peru, and later with Canada," he said at the Ministry of Trade office, Jakarta, Tuesday, August 12.

In addition, Djatmiko said, the Ministry of Trade together with other relevant ministries/agencies will continue to accelerate a number of new trade agreements as an effort to diversify the market.

"Those that have been completed, but have not been signed, but will be signed this year are Canada, Eurasia or the EAEU (Ereuraian Economic Union), it is a combination of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia. Then there is Tunisia PTA and the North African region," he explained.

Selain itu, Djatmiko menambahkan, pemerintah juga sedang mengupayakan percepatan penyelesaian perundingan perjanjian dagang dengan Uni Eropa.

“Nanti EU akan berikutnya, belum selesai jadi kita akan coba selesaikan. Pak Presiden sudah mengumumkan ada kesepakatan politis untuk menyelesaikan segera di tahun ini. Ya mudah-mudahan nanti dalam beberapa minggu depan bisa kita benar-benar tuntaskan,” katanya.

In addition, Djatmiko added, the government is also working to accelerate the settlement of trade agreement negotiations with the European Union.

"Later the EU will be next, it's not finished yet so we will try to finish it. The President has announced a political agreement to complete it soon this year. Yes, hopefully in the next few weeks we can really finish it," he said.