VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan affirmed that the government is ready to facilitate young members of the Indonesian diaspora to embark on entrepreneurship in Australia.

Speaking at a gathering with members of the Indonesian diaspora in Sydney, the minister expressed hope that young diasporas can promote Indonesia and everything it has to offer, including food, arts, and tourism.

"The Trade Ministry is open to facilitating those works and efforts through the help of our trade representatives. In Australia, you can seek assistance from our trade attaché in Canberra and the Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) in Sydney," Hasan noted as per the statement received here on Tuesday (July 4).

Indonesia and Australia have become key trade partners for one another, and bilateral trade between the two countries recorded the highest-ever value of US$13.3 billion in 2022, according to data from the Indonesian trade ministry.

The minister noted that Indonesian entrepreneurs could optimize the benefits provided by the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA), ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

"Business actors and communities in the two countries can tap in on unexplored potentials and bolster the mutually beneficial cooperation," Hasan remarked.

The meeting with the Indonesian diaspora took place at Sydney's Garam Merica Indonesian restaurant. The establishment is owned by an Indonesian diaspora cooperating with Australian importers, and all products used by the restaurant come from Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Sydney ITPC Chairperson Annisa Puspasari highlighted that the Indonesia Spice Up the World programme to promote Indonesian products could be implemented by opening Indonesian restaurants in Australia.

"Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre in Sydney is always encouraging and supporting the Indonesian diaspora, who open the Indonesian restaurant, including by using spices made in Indonesia," Puspasari stated. (Antaranews)