VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia’s Trade Ministry has targeted to achieve an export growth of 7.5 percent in 2019, slightly higher than 7.47 percent recorded during the period from January to November 2018.

"We have targeted 7.5 percent (of export growth). It has been decided at our meeting in the Trade Ministry. We have to discuss this further with other ministries," Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita remarked in Jakarta on Thursday.

Lukita said the target has taken into account the current global economy that has been overshadowed by the trade war.

Despite its indirect impact on Indonesia, the trade war has affected some destination countries for Indonesian exports.

In a bid to improve its exports, Lukita remarked that the ministry had continued to expand its exports to non-traditional markets, in addition to its traditional markets, such as China, the United States, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand.

In 2018, the ministry had recorded a higher export value to non-traditional markets, such as Bangladesh, with an increase of 15.9 percent; Turkey, 10.4 percent; Myanmar, 17.3 percent; Canada, nine percent; New Zealand, 16.8 percent; Poland, 23.3 percent; and Nigeria, 17.3 percent.

"We open greater access to export markets by improving international trade agreements and trade mission to boost export to non-traditional markets," the minister stated.

The ministry has targeted to sign 12 trade agreements in 2019: Indonesia-Mozambique Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), Indonesia-Tunisia PTA, ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA), and 1st Protocol to Amend of ASEAN Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Investment and Services).

The other agreements are the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), Indonesia-Iran PTA, Indonesia-Morocco PTA, Indonesia-Turkey CEPA, Indonesia-Korea CEPA, Indonesia-European Union CEPA and RCEP. (ANTARA)