MSMEs Are Difficult To Export To Saudi Arabia, Minister Of Trade Zulhas: There Is No Trade Agreement

Minister of Trade Zulhas (Photo: Doc. Antara)

BEKASI - The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) stated that Indonesia does not yet have a trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This makes it difficult for MSME actors to export.

"I just returned from Arabia, we (Indonesia-Arab) have no agreement (trade), so there are difficulties, yes, we cannot sell directly," said Trade Minister (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan to reporters in the Bekasi area, West Java, Friday, February 10.

Zulkifli Hasan or often called Zulhas said that if Indonesia always relied on Singapore as an alternative to making sales, Indonesia would always be left behind compared to other countries.

"Sometimes there are many intermediaries, here there are many intermediaries. Well, intermediaries there and here are difficult, finally through Singapore, when it's like that, we lose another opportunity," he said.

Therefore, said Zulhas, his party is trying to speed up the making of the trade agreement. Because, according to him, Indonesia's relations with Arabia, especially in terms of trade, have been established for a long time.

"I have come there (Arab). Later, we will make an agreement, whether the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is wider, this is still a process. So sometimes there are obstacles, I protest so that this can be accelerated," he explained.

Even so, Zulhas ensured that Indonesia had no need to worry about the export difficulties being faced. This is because his party is still trying to complete the agreement.

So that in the future, Indonesian MSME actors can export to Saudi Arabia with various conveniences.

"So, while there are choices of friends (MSME actors), if possible (exports) are done easily, go directly to Arabia, if you can't go through the UAE, that's because the agreement has not been completed," he said.