Trade Ministry to Complete 11 Trade Agreements to Boost Exports

Jakarta, InfoPublik – Indonesian Trade Ministry continues to increase exports of Indonesian products to international market, one of which is through the completion of trade agreements with partner countries. Trade Ministry is targeting to complete 11 trade agreements by 2020, both bilateral and multilateral agreements.

"Indonesia must complete 11 trade agreements, both bilateral and multilateral, especially in ministerial level," said Trade Ministry’s Secretary General Karyanto Suprih in a press release received in Jakarta on Wednesday (3/7).

Karyanto said, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita and staff are finalizing the ASEAN Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement and six other bilateral agreements with several countries namely the European Union, Mozambique, Tunisia, Morocco, Turkey, and Egypt.

Indonesia is eager to sign trade agreements with many countries as part of its efforts to increase exports amid trade war between the United States and China.

In line with this measure, Trade Ministry is also trying to open new export destinations in Southern African countries that are members of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), Western Africa (Economic Community of West African States/ECOWAS), Eurasian countries, and countries in Latin America. In addition, Indonesia also actively participates in several international organizations such as ASEAN, World Trade Organization (WTO), APEC, G20 and G33.

“Trade Ministry’s policy to boost cooperation with a number of countries is an effort to open export opportunities and to overcome the slowdown in Indonesian exports. At the same time, efforts to open new markets are aimed to boost trade balance, "said Karyanto.(Reporter: Irma, Translator:Sugiarti)