VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Bambang Soesatyo asked for the support of the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mustafa Sentop, to help speed up the completion of the negotiations for the Indonesia-Turkey Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IT-CEPA), as an effort to restore the national economy that was affected by the pandemic.

Bambang Soesatyo made the request during an official meeting with the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday (3/11).

“Parliament has an important role in completing the IT-CEPA negotiations. Therefore, I request Your Excellency's help to accelerate the completion of these negotiations", said the Speaker of the MPR in a meeting with the Chair of the Turkish Parliament, as conveyed by the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara on Wednesday.

During the pandemic, Indonesian textile exports to Turkey fell 49 percent In response to this request, the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament said that he would ask the relevant commission in the Turkish Parliament to immediately review the latest status of the agreement, and find the best way so that the Turkish government can speed up the negotiation of the agreement that has been going on for almost four years.

The bilateral trade value between Indonesia and Turkey in 2019 reached $1.6 billion with a surplus on the Indonesian side of more than US $ 800 million.
This figure is the largest compared to the value of Indonesia's trade with countries in the Balkans and Eastern Europe others in surplus, it is estimated that there is still potential for an increase in the short term of around 600 million US dollars if the two countries have signed the IT-CEPA.

Indonesia's main export products to Turkey are industrial raw material products that Turkey really needs to increase its exports to world markets, such as palm oil derivative products, rubber, and various types of yarns and automotive components.

"Therefore, the increase in Indonesian exports will strengthen the local industry in Turkey," said Trade Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara Erik Nababan.

Apart from discussing the acceleration of the IT-CEPA settlement, the Chairman of the MPR RI also expressed his sympathy and condolences for the earthquake that killed over 100 people and injured nearly 1,000 victims in Izmir Province, Turkey.

Together with Sentop, Bambang also discussed several strategic collaborations that have been taking place between the two countries including the defense industry, manufacturing the COVID-19 vaccine which is expected to enter the clinical trial, infrastructure, and investment stages soon.

Meanwhile, in inter-parliamentary cooperation, the Speaker of the MPR also used the opportunity of the meeting to ask for Turkey's support for ​​the Indonesian MPR to establish a World Syuro Assembly. The assembly will cover all elements of the legislature, both in countries that adopt a one-chamber or two-chamber system.

The Chairman of the Turkish Parliament immediately supported this idea from Indonesia.

Apart from being accompanied by the Indonesian Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, in the meeting the Chairman of the MPR was also accompanied by two Deputy Chairmen of the MPR, namely Fadel Muhammad and Syarief Hasan. (Antaranews)