VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

More than 60 percent of Indonesia's exported goods entering South American countries are sent through Panama. This was said by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi in a press statement together with Vice President and Foreign Minister of Panama, Isabel Saint Malo at the Pancasila Building, Jakarta, Thursday (25/10). According to Retno Marsudi, Indonesia and Panama are committed to increasing bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields, especially economics.

“More than 60 percent of Indonesia's export commodities to South America are carried out through Panama, and then re-exported to South American countries. For this reason, in our bilateral, we discussed efforts to strengthen the foundation of bilateral relations between the two countries. especially in the economic field, it becomes our main focus. Trade between the two countries reached 130 million US dollars last year,” said Retno Marsudi.

Furthermore, Minister Retno Marsudi explained that in the first semester of 2018, the trade value of the two countries increased by 31. 2 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. She said it showes that there is still a possibility that cooperation between Indonesia and Panama is wide open. In line with Minister Retno Marsudi, Vice President Isabel Saint Malo said that Panama opens an opportunity for Indonesia to reach markets in Latin America, North America and the Caribbean, given that there are still many fields of cooperation that have not been touched by Indonesia. Isabel Saint Malo's visit to Indonesia this year was the first visit by Vice President of Panama since the opening of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Panama in 1979. (VOI/VIQRAN/DP)