VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

KBRN, Santiago: The Indonesian Ministry of Trade (MoT) is encouraging the penetration of Indonesian products to South America through Chile. It was conveyed by the Director General of National Export Development (PEN) of the Ministry of Trade Didi Sumedi as the leader of the Indonesian Trade Mission Delegation to Chile on 9-10 May 2024. "The Ministry of Trade is committed to continuing to encourage Indonesian products to enter non-traditional markets, one of which is the South American region. Chile has a strategic position among other South American countries because it can be an entry point for Indonesian products to the South American region," Didi said.

Didi also said that this trade mission aims to encourage increased trade potential and economic partnership between the two countries after the implementation of IC-CEPA in 2019. "Through the utilisation of the IC-CEPA trade agreement, the potential value of trade between the two countries can still be increased to USD 1 billion. The Trade Mission to Chile is also a form of the Ministry of Trade's contribution in supporting the National Export Enhancement Task Force, and Chile is one of the priority countries targeted to increase exports," Didi said.

Chile is a country with a very open economy. Chile has signed 34 free trade agreements (FTAs) with 64 countries including Indonesia. IC-CEPA alone eliminates 89.6 per cent of the total tariff posts. Therefore, Indonesian businesses can take advantage of it through the use of the Certificate of Origin (SKA) Form IC-CEPA. "IC-CEPA has had a positive impact on increasing the value of Indonesia-Chile trade by 21.73 per cent compared to the value of trade before IC-CEPA," said Djatmiko.

In this trade mission, there were nine business players and associations participating. The businesses and associations are engaged in various sectors such as palm oil products and their derivatives, pesticides, chemical products, vehicle parts, and packaging. Meanwhile, the Indonesia-Chile business forum attended by more than 70 Chilean business players, followed by one on one business matching between Indonesian companies and Chilean business players, has successfully recorded potential transactions worth USD 7.45 million or Rp 119.20 billion. Potential transactions were generated from palm oil products and their derivatives, motor vehicle parts, and plastic packaging. In addition, a business meeting was also held with the Chilean Confederation of Industries (Sociedad de Fomento Fabril/ SOFOFA) and representatives of the Chilean Government in the field of international economic relations (Subsecretatia de Relaciones Economicas Internationales Chile/SUBREI).

The meeting aimed to encourage the involvement of Indonesian and Chilean businesses, as well as broader cooperation and mutual benefit for both countries. In a series of trade missions to Chile, a number of business visits were made, namely to Jumbo Supermarket, an importer of Mannheim automotive parts, an importer of Area Design furniture, and an importer of Indonesian bicycles, Cross Mountain. Jumbo Supermarket, which is the largest retailer in South America, has imported noodle products from Indonesia with several variants and flavours. Jumbo Supermarket expressed interest in trying coconut products from Indonesia. In response, Didi welcomed and will facilitate Jumbo's meeting with Indonesian companies that produce coconut products.

In addition, during a visit to Chile's leading importer of vehicle parts, Mannheim, the Ministry of Trade facilitated a meeting between Indonesian vehicle parts businesses and Chilean importers. The Ministry of Trade also supports other potential automotive parts products to enter the Chilean market. Didi Sumedi, the leader of the Indonesian trade delegation, said that in addition to food and vehicle parts, the growth potential of the furniture industry in Chile is also very promising. During a visit to Area Design, a prestigious furniture supply company in Chile, Didi found that 70 per cent of its products come from Indonesia.

Didi believes that through the preferential tariff scheme of the IC-CEPA, which has entered the implementation stage, the performance of Indonesian furniture exports to Chile will continue to increase. "Moreover, because Indonesian furniture products can compete in the Chilean market in terms of price with similar products from other countries," Didi added.

Meanwhile, at a meeting with Cross Mountain, which is a well-known importer of sports products in Chile, Didi invited Cross Mountain, which has also imported mountain bikes from Polygon Indonesia, to take advantage of the IC-CEPA tariff reduction scheme to increase the volume and value of bicycle imports from Indonesia. "Bicycles are one of the products that receive preferential tariffs on import duty reductions under the IC-CEPA scheme," Didi concluded.

Source: Indonesian Ministry of Trade

VOINews, Jakarta: Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Vietnam Pham Thu Hang has said that like many other countries, Vietnam follows with keen interest the expanding membership of BRICS – a group of emerging economies that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

As reported by Vovworld.vn (10/5) at a press conference in Hanoi, Ms. Hang responded to a question about the possibility of Vietnam joining BRICS this year.

 According to Pham Thu Hang, Vietnam is a responsible and active member of the international community that follows a foreign policy of multilateralism, diversification, independence, and self-reliance. 

She  has further said Vietnam is always ready to participate in and contribute actively to global and regional multilateral mechanisms, organizations, and forums.VOI/Vovworld.vn

VOI News, Jakarta: Indonesian Navy soldiers from the 1st Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (Yontaifib) and the United States Marines on Friday wrapped up a series of reconnaissance and infiltration exercises under the "Reconnaissance Exchange" (Reconex) Joint Exercise 2024.

The two units underwent a series of closing exercises ranging from long-range navigation exercises to complete infiltration exercises (full mission profile) from May 8–10, 2024.

Commander of Marine Troops (Danpasmar) 1, Brigadier General Umar Farouq, emphasized that joint training between Indonesian and United States Marine troops would not stop at the 2024 Reconex.

"There will be many more exercises between the two units," he informed while reviewing the training on Thursday, according to an official statement released on Friday.

As part of a series of full mission profile exercises on Damar Island since Thursday, Amphibious Reconnaissance soldiers from the two countries practiced infiltrating enemy areas, paralyzing targets, freeing prisoners, and treating and evacuating combat victims, followed by exfiltrating, or leaving the enemy area after completing the mission.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday (May 8), the soldiers trained in long-range navigation, a cross-surface infiltration technique using rubber boats (seariders).

In a separate official statement issued by the US Embassy in Indonesia, Commander of Alfa Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division of the US Marine Corps, Captain Ethan Hamilton, informed that the Reconex training was a unique opportunity for soldiers from the two countries to build mutual trust.

According to him, the joint exercise aimed to improve the capabilities of the two countries' reconnaissance forces in terms of tactics, techniques, and procedures in a hostile environment.

The Reconex training is a joint exercise that is held routinely by the Indonesian Navy's Marine Corps and the United States Marine Corps every one–two years.

This year, the training took place from April 25–May 10. It was attended by 120 soldiers from the 1st Yontaifib of the Indonesian Navy's Marine Corps and 20 soldiers from the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion of the 1st Marine Division of the US Marine Corps.

Besides Damar Island, the Reconex training was also held in several other locations, namely Marine Combat Training Center (Puslatpur) 6 Antralina, Sukabumi, West Java; the Pondok Cabe Airbase in Tangerang, Banten; and the Indonesian Armed Forces Training Command in Jakarta. (Antara)

VOI News, Jakarta: TNI AU Staff Deputy Chief, Vice Marshal Andyawan Martono, discussed joint training plans with Japan Air Self-Defense Deputy Chief, Lieutenant General Takuto Ogaswara, alongside the 2024 Air and Space Conference in Canberra, Australia, May 9.

"The two officials discussed the possibility of joint exercise between the two air forces," as quoted from the Indonesian Air Force's official statement on Friday.

The Indonesian Air Force welcomes the Japanese military to conduct joint exercises. This will be beneficial for Indonesia to gain new perspective and combat experience with Japan.

In addition, both nations can share knowledge on war strategies and technology of the main weapons systems, according to the statement.

This cooperation in the military sector will also strengthen the long-standing sound relations between Indonesia and Japan.

Hence, the Indonesian Air Force ranks hope that the joint military air training activities would be completed shortly.

Earlier, Indonesian Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto, and his Japanese counterpart, Minoru Kihara, discussed several matters during their meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on April 3, including those related to defense cooperation, one of which was continuing cadet exchanges and issues related to the Indo-Pacific region.

Prabowo is optimistic that defense cooperation between the two countries would continue to increase based on the success of earlier programs.

"I previously met with the Japanese minister of defense and asked to send cadets from Indonesia, starting with two people. After that, I asked for another batch, and we have sent four people in total," Prabowo told Kihara at the meeting.

Minister Kihara also conveyed his stance against all unilateral decisions and changes that could increase tensions in the South China Sea.

He believes that Japan and Indonesia, as maritime countries, can work together to ensure the implementation of law in maintaining the Indo-Pacific as a free and open region. (Antara)