VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (VOI News) - Indonesia has many opportunities for economic cooperation with China. During the first quarter of 2020, for the first time, the value of Indonesia's exports to China exceeded that of Indonesia's imports from China. This proves that Indonesian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) continue to be active in the production and even export their products to China during the first quarter of 2020. It was stated by the Indonesian Ambassador to China, Djauhari Oratmangun in a telephone interview with Voice of Indonesia, Thursday (22/05). Djauhari Oratmangun said that one of Indonesia's export opportunities to China is the export of swallow nests, food products, and tropical fruits.

"So we see there are various opportunities, for example during the first quarter or 2020, Indonesia's swallow's nest exports increased significantly. We dominate almost 75 percent of the swallow nest market in China. Food products' exports also increased significantly. One that might be known is shrimp crackers, not to mention other food products. Then exports of tropical fruits such as mangosteen, salak or zalacca, and other tropical fruits also increased significantly. So it is food products," said Ambassador Djauhari Oratmangun.

Ambassador Djauhari Oratmangun further said that besides food export opportunities, Indonesia also has opportunities for establishing cooperation with China in the digital economy that can help Indonesia to accelerate its economic development.

"And lastly, I think this is also an opportunity, with COVID-19, because we have started in the past years, is cooperation in the field of the digital economy, which can help Indonesia to leapfrog or accelerate its economic development. Just look at the startups and unicorns that we already have, 4 now, maybe it will be 5 or 6. And we are the leader in the digital economy, compared to other ASEAN countries," Djauhari Oratmangun added.

Djauhari Oratmangun said that China is one of the leading countries in the digital economy. So, if Indonesia cooperates with China in this field, it will be able to contribute to the Indonesian economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, he continued, countries in the world will face a new order in which one of the prominent ones is digitalization with the digital economy as one of its elements. (VOI / ADVENT / AHM)