VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan told Indonesian Ambassador to Kuwait, Lena Maryana Mukti at the Ministry of Trade office in Jakarta on Friday (15/7) that increasing Indonesian exports to Kuwait could be carried out through the United Arab Emirates. This can be done by utilizing the Indonesia–United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed by Minister Zulkifli Hasan and the United Arab Emirates Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri in Abu Dhabi on July 1, 2022.

Minister Zulkifli Hasan emphasized that the agreement is strategic for Indonesia because the United Arab Emirates is a hub to enter the Middle East region, especially countries in Africa. Like Kuwait and other Gulf countries that are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and are potential export markets for Indonesia, he added that the Indonesia–United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Trade because it has a large enough effect on Indonesian small and medium-sized enterprises. It is hoped that they will take advantage of the opportunity to eliminate import duty rates to intensify exports of superior products to these markets.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Lena Maryana Mukti said that Kuwait is one of the countries with very high import activity in the region. This is an opportunity for Indonesia's superior products to expand the market in Kuwait. From January to May 2022, the total trade between Indonesia and Kuwait was recorded at US4136.3 millions. Meanwhile in 2021, it was US$395.4 millions. Exports of Indonesian non-oil and gas products to Kuwait include vehicles, spare parts, wood boards, pulp wood, coatings, fishery products, and paper. Meanwhile Indonesia's imports from Kuwait include ethylene polymer, glass fiber sulfur, sodium hydroxide, and rubber inner tubes.