VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Trade Ministry is preparing a strategy to boost West Nusa Tenggara province`s exports, in the wake of last August`s disastrous earthquake that paralyzed the local economy.

The strategy will allow for the local population to take part in each promotional activity, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said, while delivering a general lecture at Jayakarta Hotel in West Lombok on Monday.

"In essence, seeing is believing. So we will show them our products to buy. If our products are not known to them, then how could they buy them? We must promote the products abroad to show them to buyers," he said.

One of the events to promote local products is Trade Expo Indonesia, which he said will encourage the market to purchase West Nusa Tenggara`s products.

"We will assist (local businessmen) in preparing promotional facilities, including at the trade expo, which is one of the large exhibitions," he said.

He added that the government`s attention to West Nusa Tenggara has been realized, in accordance with the mandate of President Joko Widodo. In his mandate, the president has ordered all ministries to pay attention to earthquake-stricken areas.

Not only does the infrastructure development support the local population?s activities, but the recovery of the local economy also has become the main target of the government`s program in the wake of the earthquake, he said.

"Based on the president`s instructions, we will surely encourage those disaster-affected areas in West Nusa Tenggara and Palu to be high on the list of priorities to catch up with the market," he said. (ANTARA)