VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Minister of Trade, Enggartiasto Lukita stated that Indonesia successfully won a biodiesel dispute with the European Union -EU. The final result of the WTO Dispute Council Panel ruling won six Indonesian lawsuits against the EU. This was disclosed by Minister Enggartiasto Lukita from Islamabad, Pakistan on Friday (26/1). This is a form of landslide victory for Indonesia which certainly opens wide market access and re-spurred the performance of biodiesel exports to the European Union for Indonesian producers who previously had experienced the lethargy due to the imposition of anti-dumping duties on the product. The EU imposed anti-dumping duties on Indonesia's biodiesel products since 2013 with a dumping margin of 8.8 percent to 23.3 percent. Since then, Indonesia's biodiesel exports to the EU have declined. Based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics from 2013-2016, Indonesia's biodiesel exports to the EU fell from $ 649 million dollars in 2013 to $150 million dollars in 2016, down 42.84%. Indonesia's victory over the dispute gives hope to Indonesian biodiesel exporters and producers. (Release of ministry/Trans by Rhm))

On the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Summit, President Joko Widodo held a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in New Delhi, India on Thursday (25/1). In the meeting, President Joko Widodo conveyed the importance of efforts to improve economic cooperation. He assessed that the bilateral trade between the two countries has actually begun to grow since last year but still far from the real potential. President Joko Widodo hopes to enhance trade, including eliminating trade barriers. President Joko Widodo also pointed out that the increase in import duty rates is high enough to palm oil to India. The increase in the price of palm oil will affect Indonesia's exports. President Joko Widodo asserted that if Indonesia's palm oil exports are reduced, surely it will also affect the fulfillment of India's growing market needs. Thus, he strongly expects the Indian government to reconsider tariff policy on vegetable oil. (Release of the palace press bureau/Trans by Rhm)

Indonesian Ministry of Trade requires exporters and importers to use ships owned by Indonesian national shipping companies in their trading activities. Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Oke Nurwan said that Indonesia has not optimally maximized the potential in the field of shipping and trade insurance services. he explained in Jakarta on Thursday, (January 25^th) that the use of national ships for the movement of domestic goods has been 95 percent. However, for international shipping, the number is still very small. Therefore, the government requires exporters and importers to use national shipping through Regulation of the Minister of Trade No. 82/2017 on Terms of Use of Sea Transport and National Insurance for Export and Import of Certain Goods. He also said that the policy is part of the package of 15^th economic policy.  Oke said “…Because, there is no trigger if we do not intervene. Well, with 82^nd ministerial regulation, we have a mandatory trigger. Well… later, we will arrange the exceptions”. 

Oke further explained that so far, exporters and importers have been in favor to use foreign shipping companies. Since, they are easier in terms of bureaucracy. Thus, the government will invite national shipping companies, insurance companies and exporters and importers to meet and discuss the issues. In the first phase, Oke targets that to export coal and crude palm oil -CPO is obliged to use national shipping services, and then other commodities will follow. This policy will take effect from 1^st of May 2018. (Sekar/trans by Rezha)

While in Davos, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum-WEF was having its  annual meeting,  in Tokyo, Japan, ministers from 11 member countries of the Trans Pacific Partnership-TPP, met to continue the multilateral organization without the US.

Tuesday, January 23, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, stated that the luster of globalization has now dimmed. The barrier is the protectionist attitude of some countries. Although not addressing the name, this statement is apparently aimed at the United States. Since Trump came to power, the United States has demonstrated a protective stance in trade. Among others by  abandoning the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal.

In the same forum last year, when Trump was to enter  the White House, Chinese President Xi Jin Ping had already expressed his views on free trade. Not wanting to lag behind China, this year Modi wants India to be an example of free trade by opening the door for investment.

As one of the fastest-growing countries in the BRICS group, (Brazil,  Russia, India, China, and South Africa), India feels it is lagging behind China and seeking to build partnerships with Southeast Asian countries.

Upon  returning  from Davos, in order to further strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asian countries, Modi invited 10 ASEAN countries to meet on ASEAN-India summit and to celebrate the Republic of India Day, which fell on  Friday (26 January). Despite having cultural influence in almost all ASEAN countries, and implementing  the Act East policy,  India's trade rate with ASEAN only reached 470 million US dollars in 2016-2017. That number is only one-sixth of China -ASEAN trade value.

India is trying to approach ASEAN because China has approached and been accepted in South Asia, by building infrastructure and energy in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. But some Southeast Asian countries in dispute with China, are expecting a bigger role of  India in the region.

For Indonesia, the intention of India, who does not want to lose influence in Southeast Asia and ASEAN,  is a natural thing. As a country with active  and free foreign policy, Indonesia welcomed the intention, and attended India Republic Day celebrations with a delegation led by  President Joko Widodo. But of course Indonesia does not want to wobble in other countries battle  of influence, including India and China.