VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo is optimistic that products from Central Java, which were on display at 'Made in Indonesia Expo 2018' in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, could be accepted by the people of Saudi Arabia. This was affirmed by Governor Ganjar at the location of the 'Made in Indonesia Expo 2018' exhibition in Jeddah on Friday. He remarked that some products from Central Java, such as Goyor sarongs, shell charcoal, car body, coffee, gemstone rings and ceramics were exhibited. These products are able to win the hearts of the people of Saudi Arabia. At the exhibition which was first held after 25 years, Governor Ganjar pointed out the need for a comprehensive evaluation, both in terms of implementation, funding, products and event management. He hopes that the next exhibition can be carried out better and comprehensively equipped with media coverage to convey various economic potentials in Indonesia. (Ant-SG / edit r)

Entrepreneurs from Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are aggressively enhancing business partnerships. This is reflected in the implementation of the Indonesia-Saudi Arabia Business Forum as a series of 'Made in Indonesia Expo 2018' in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This was stated by Director General of National Export Development at the Trade Ministry, Arlinda in Jeddah on Friday. She said that the enthusiasm of Saudi Arabian businesspeople is quite huge in the business forum that was held for the first time. The entrepreneurs also immediately pointed out which sectors they would like to cooperate with and target several products from Indonesia to be distributed in their countries. This proves that various products in Indonesia have standards that are in accordance with the people in Saudi Arabia. On the occasion, Arlinda pointed out that the relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have been going on for a long time. For several centuries, Arab scholars and merchants have visited Indonesia to preach and trade and Indonesians have also visited Saudi Arabia for Hajj and studied Islam. (Ant-SG/edit r)

Indonesia is interested in developing economic cooperation with Eurasian Economic Union -EEU. That was said by the Russian Ambassador to ASEAN, Alexander Ivanov at a press conference in Jakarta, Friday (30/11). He pointed out that economic cooperation would be developed through the mechanism of free trade zones. Two also said that a number of ASEAN countries, such as Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia were interested in making free trade agreements with EEU. During the ASEAN-Russia Summit in Singapore in November, ASEAN and Russia through the Eurasian Economic Commission signed a MoU on economic cooperation. In the near future, Russia and ASEAN will hold workshops themed "Regional Economic Integration in the Eurasian Economic Union and ASEAN". (Ant-SG / edit r)

Romanian Ambassador to Indonesia, Valerica Epure hoped in Jakarta on Friday that on Romania's 100th independence anniversary, bilateral cooperation between Romania and Indonesia will be increasingly enhanced. In 2017, trade cooperation between Indonesia increased by 10 percent compared to the previous year. One way to improve it, according to Ambassador Valerica Epure is through the establishment of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Indonesia and the European Union (CEPA). She also hopes the discussion of the agreement can be completed sooner so that both sides can open new opportunities for economic cooperation.

“We hope that the negotiations of an ambitious and substantive EU-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will be finalized sooner other than later, opening new opportunity of economic cooperation for all parties. There are many possibilities for our bilateral cooperation and that together we’ll be able to further strengthen our cooperation. Also environment, disasters, sustainable development of the economy, ITC, processing industry and tourism,” said Ambassador Valerica Epure.

In addition to trade cooperation which increased in 2017 by 10 percent compared to that of the previous year, Ambassador Valerica Epure also said that Indonesia and Romania also collaborate within the framework of international cooperation; one of which is the membership in the United Nations. She viewed that both countries have a good record in encouraging the creation of peace, enforcement of international law, mutual respect, dialogue and multilateralism. Romania is also committed to supporting Indonesia as a Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council for the period 2019-2020. (VOI/Ndy/RHM)