VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Ambassador to Tunisia, Zuhairi Misrawi has conveyed that  Indonesia and Tunisia have attractive trade market potential to be developed in the future.  Based on the statement from  the   Indonesian Embassy Tunis received in Jakarta on Wednesday (24/1),  according  to  Ambassador Zuhairi in his  statement, on one hand, Tunisia has a strategic location as a hub with European,  Arab,  and African countries and has free trade agreements with these countries.  On the other hand,  Indonesia is an important country in ASEAN and has good relations with ASEAN countries and other Asian countries. Therefore, economic diplomacy of both countries can be a bridge for market expansion.Moreover, Ambassador Zuhairi  has also said  if this can be materialized, it will provide benefits for both countries.  He also explained that  Indonesia-Tunisia economic diplomacy continues to improve. Thereby, it further reinforces bilateral relations between the two countries.Ambassador Zuhairi also stated that  bilateral relations between Indonesia and Tunisia have been built on a mutual desire to carry out mutually beneficial cooperation and respect for both parties. Trade cooperation is a top priority so that it can open up employment opportunities for both parties.Furthermore, Ambassador Zuhairi also emphasized  that the legal umbrella for a Preferential Trade Agreement agreement as a path to a Free Trade Agreement is needed amidst a steady increase in the volume of trade cooperation above US$200 million or around Rp3.1 trillion. Preferential Trade Agreement negotiations starting in 2018 must be immediately signed  so that the trading volume can reach a minimum of US$500 million US or around Rp7.8 trillion.In addition, the Indonesian Embassy in Tunis also reported,  Ambassador Zuhairi  attended a dialogue program on Tunisna TV in Tunisia last Wednesday.  The dialogue was held in order to deepen the follow-up to the bilateral visits of the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi to Tunisia at the end of December 2023. In the dialogue,  Ambassador Zuhairi explained not only Indonesia-Tunisia economic diplomacy, but also the importance of increasing cooperation in the fields of tourism and education between the two countries.