VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government continues to open a wider export access to  New Zealand, especially in  labor market and agricultural products so that bilateral relations continue to improve. Director General of International Trade Negotiations, Iman Pambagyo who was  Head of the Indonesian Delegation at the 7th Senior Official's Meeting on Trade and Investment Framework (SOMTIF) in Wellington, New Zealand on Wednesday, February 12 said.

Iman Pambagyo through his statement in Jakarta On Friday, February 14, revealed that  at the SOMTIF this time, the Indonesian delegation fought for access  to enter New Zealand labor market. In addition, there is also access to Indonesian tropical fruit products, specifically related to solving non-tariff barriers for mangosteen, banana, pineapple, snake fruit, and mango products.

According to Iman Pambagyo, in addition to the issue of labor and agricultural market access, Indonesia also invited New Zealand investors to invest in Indonesia in the livestock, tourism, vocational and tertiary education sectors, as well as the creative economy. Collaborations offered in the creative economy sector include film and animation. He asserted, New Zealand has a fairly advanced film industry. Many box office films are made in New Zealand, such as the Hobbit and Lord of the Ring. Therefore, Indonesia wants to establish cooperation through the forum. He added, the issues that the Indonesian delegation was seeking at the SOMTIF meeting were in line with President Joko Widodo's vision to develop human resources and improve export performance, including to New Zealand. He reiterated, amid of the current world economic slowdown, SOMTIF has an important meaning in increasing cooperation between Indonesia and New Zealand.

The Senior Official’s Meeting on Trade and Investment Framework -SOMTIF is a regular annual bilateral forum between Indonesia and New Zealand. It discusses trade and investment issues and it is a momentum  for  improving trade and investment performance through technical cooperation. SOMTIF was formed in 2005 and was first held in Wellington on July 14 and 15, 2008. Furthermore, the SOMTIF agenda is carried out alternately by the two countries.

Indonesia's main export products to New Zealand are oil cake, coal, wood and tires. Meanwhile, Indonesia's main import products from New Zealand are dairy products, wheat flour, and chemical wood pulp. Data from the Investment Coordinating Board shows the value of New Zealand's investment realization in Indonesia was recorded at US$2.6 million dollars in 81 projects. The majority of investment is in the tertiary / service sector such as hotels, restaurants and tourism. While Indonesian companies investing in New Zealand engage in the distribution of phosphate and surfactant.