VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry -Kadin Indonesia together with the Embassy of the Republic of India in Jakarta established the Bilateral Committee of India to encourage the enhancement of economic cooperation between businessmen from Indonesia and India. Vice Chairman of Kadin on International Relations, Shinta Widjaja Kamdani, in the inauguration of the Indian Bilateral Committee for Indonesian Chamber of Commerce in Jakarta, Friday (18/5) said that the committee is ready to facilitate Indonesian-Indian businessmen who interested to expand their business in the two countries. The committee works under the coordination of Kadin on International Relations. Shinta Widjaja Kamdani also said that, the Bilateral Committee of India will become a catalyst in improving economic relations and achieving the investment and trade targets of the two countries’ businessmen, especially in six sectors, namely mining, infrastructure, manufacture, pharmaceutical, digital, and service sectors. In addition, the Indian Committee will provide needed informations, to simplify the businessmen of both countries. The six sectors are the focus of the deal generated by entrepreneurs from both countries at the CEO Forum Indonesia-India 2016, which was held on the sidelines of President Joko Widodo's visit to India in December 2016. Indian ambassador to Indonesia, Pradeep Kumar Rawat, on the same occassion said that there is still a lot of cooperation that can be explored by Indonesian and Indian businessmen. Indonesian Ambassador Pradeep Kumar Rawat moreover said that India opens wide opportunities for Indonesian business actors to cooperate with India in various sectors. Therefore, the existence of the Bilateral Committee of India will encourage the availability of relevant information for the development of Indonesian and Indian businesses. The committee also plays a role in promoting the Indonesian and Indian markets which become government’s priority and providing input to encourage conducive conditions for business cooperation between the two countries. He said co-operation can support each other to improve relationships and concern on the matter that happened in Indonesia and India, things that can be offered by Indonesia to India and vice versa. Central Bureau of Statistics noted that Indonesia-India trade balance in 2016 worth 12.9 billion US dollars, with a total export value of 10.2 billion US dollars and the imports value of 2.1 billion US dollars. In 2017, Indonesia-India's trade balance increased by 28.7 percent, and in the period of January-March 2018, Indonesia and India's trade balance declined. Both countries set a target of 50 billion US dollars for trade and investment by 2025.