VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Over 20 Indonesian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are interested in boosting exports of food and beverage products to South Korea during an online meeting with 10 South Korean importers.

The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul organized the meeting on Monday to connect MSMEs engaged in the production of food and beverages with potential importers.

“The most important thing is to provide a means of communication between exporters and importers so that trade relations can be established sustainably in the long term, not (for) just one transaction,” Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea, Umar Hadi, said in a press release received on Tuesday.

“We must be optimistic that the trade value between Indonesia and South Korea will continue to increase even amid a pandemic,” he added.

Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, Indonesia and South Korea traded goods worth US$18.6 billion (around Rp274.7 trillion) in 2018, with Indonesia recording a surplus of US$443.6 million (around Rp.6.5 trillion).

Indonesia ranked 19th among countries exporting food and beverages to South Korea in 2019.

Meanwhile, in response to the coronavirus outbreak, Indonesia’s Trade Ministry has developed an INAExport application to link Indonesian exporters with buyers from abroad.

Chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs Association (GAPMMI), Adhi S. Lukman, who was also present at the virtual business meeting, said that Indonesia and South Korea have entered a new phase of trade cooperation following the signing of the Indonesia-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IK-CEPA).

"Indonesia is ready to meet the standards set by South Korea and provide the best products," Lukman said.

Indonesian MSME products are in demand and ready to enter the South Korean market are sweets, snacks, ready-to-eat foods, egg nuts, biscuits, yogurt, cracker biscuits, and medicines, according to the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul. (Antaranews)