VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan explained that the government's policy to eliminate the export levy of crude palm oil (CPO) is carried out to ease the burden on the community due to the decline in the world’s CPO prices. This was conveyed after meeting President Joko Widodo on Monday afternoon at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. According to Luhut, the government's move to remove CPO export levies is temporarily carried out by monitoring the movement of the world palm oil prices. Meanwhile, according to him, the government has managed to collect CPO export levies of up to 30 trillion rupiah. The amount, according to him, will be used to improve the welfare of oil palm farmers as long as the export levies are eliminated.

"Yes, the palm oil prices continuously decrease, the government, the president in this case, see, we decrease it for the next 6 months, if I am not mistaken. Yes we see it first, right now the oil palm is to the small people, the president only looks at the small people, then we will see again the response from the market. We have more than Rp 30 trillion in funds there, the president also requested whether it could be used to help the small farmers," said Luhut.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution announced the decision to determine the export levy of crude palm oil (CPO) from US $ 50 per ton to zero US dollars per ton. This policy was taken in view of the adverse effects faced by the domestic CPO industry which had declined. The price of palm oil is currently dropping sharply from 530 dollars per ton last week to 420 US dollars per ton. This effort according to Luhut is intended to maintain economic stability within the country amid global economic instability. (VOI/Ndy/AHM)

Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has signed a joint statement on the finalization of the comprehensive economic partnership agreement between Indonesia and European Free Trade Association/EFTA (IE-CEPA) in EFTA Secretariat in Geneva.

The joint statement was signed by Enggartiasto and four ministers of EFTA member countries, namely Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Norway, marking the completion of negotiation between Indonesia and EFTA member countries through the IE-CEPA scheme.

"Today, the five countries are happy that finally the seven years of IE-CEPA negotiations is finalized. It is a milestone for Indonesia`s relations with the four EFTA countries," Enggartiasto said in a statement obtained in Jakarta on Sunday.

According to the minister, the agreement would need legal scrubbing and translation before it could be signed in Jakarta on December.

"Indonesia and EFTA are committed to finalize the negotiation this year. Therefore, negotiators have worked intensively to address remaining issues, and finally the negotiation was completed in November 1, 2018 in Bali," he elaborated.

Under the IE-CEPA, market access for goods from both Indonesia and EFTA countries would be wider, including for services and investment as well as cooperation in economy and capacity building.

In the trade of goods, Indonesia will get wider access to EFTA markets for its fishery products, industry (textile, furniture, bicycle, electronics, car wheels), and agriculture commodities including coffee and palm oil.

In services sector, Indonesian workers that include intra-corporate trainee, trainee, contract service supplier, independent professional, and young professional, will have a wider access to EFTA countries.

Sectors in telecommunication, financial, transportation and education would take the benefit of the agreement.

Indonesia would also see an increased in investment from EFTA member countries in energy and mining sector, machinery, agriculture, fishery infrastructure, forestry, chemical industry, and others.

The agreement wold also boost cooperation and capacity building in fishery sector, aquamarine, export promotion, tourism, small and medium enterprises, sustainability, MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul), and vocational education.

"EFTA is a trade group in Europe that we have yet to explore the market potential. With the finalization of the IE-CEPA, we hope that market share in the respective countries could be optimized and become an entry gate to European market," Enggartiasto said.

The minister has also conducted a discussion with stakeholders in Geneva to socialize the IE-CEPA.

"The business forum has become an event to popularize the first stage of IE-CEPA, and to optimize the benefits of the agreement.

"Indonesian business operators who have business partners in EFTA countries are ready to increase their b-to-b transaction with businessmen in EFTA region," the minister remarked. (ANTARA)

Indonesia has promoted national exported-products in Belarus through various programs, such as business forum, seminar, and exhibition in Minsk, Belarus on November 22-25, 2018, according to a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Minsk received by Antara in Jakarta Sunday.

The Indonesian Ambassador to the Russian Federation concurrently to the Republic of Belarus, M. Wahid Supriyadi said the Indonesian government needed to make a breakthrough to increase Indonesia`s exports to non-traditional markets through Belarus.

Although it only has a population of around ten million, Belarus can be the gateway to the European Union, and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) markets whose population around 183 million people.

The promotional event also commemorates the 25th anniversary of Indonesia-Belarus diplomatic relations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Belarus and Belarusian State University also support these programs.

The Indonesia-Belarus business forum which was held with a theme of Expanding Indonesia and Belarus Business and Networks was participated by Indonesian and Belarus businesses.

Seven Indonesian companies participating in the event were Artha Graha Group, PT Kapal Api Global, PT Multi Strada Arah Sarana, PT Anugerah Bersama, PT Dua Kelinci, PT Rodamas, and Global MICE Indonesia.

The ambassador hoped that there would be a follow-up of the promotional event that would increase Indonesia`s export products to Belarus to balance the trade value of the two countries which is currently in the deficit for Indonesia.

"Of the total trade worth US$205.3 million, our deficit is around US$201 million. Therefore, we should penetrate the Belarus market," Ambassador Wahid said.

Data from the Indonesian Ministry of Trade show that the trade value of Indonesia and Belarus in 2017 was US$205.3 million, up 23.27 percent from 2016.

Indonesia has a deficit because it imports a number of products from Belarus, such as potassium (raw materials for fertilizer) and dump trucks. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s exports to Belarus include food and fisheries products, natural rubber and palm oil.

The Chairman of the Belarus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vladimir Ulakhovich, who was present at the business forum, supported the business forum and exhibition as the events were one of media to get to know each other`s potential and establish long-term cooperation, especially in the industrial sector.

According to him, Indonesia is a key and active country, as well as a potential market in the ASEAN region.

Belarus is one of the fractions of the Soviet Union which joined the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) together with Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

Indonesia is currently conducting negotiations with Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) on the Free Trade Area (FTA) and gets support from Belarus.

Besides trade, the Belarus tourism sector is also potential for Indonesia. The number of Belarus tourists to Indonesia increases every year. Data from the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism show that the number of Belarus tourists to Indonesia in 2017 was 4,098, up 31 percent from 2016.

The direct flight of Moscow-Bali which was available on October 28, 2018 has been increasing the number of Belarus tourists to Indonesia. The flight makes Belarusians easier to go to Indonesia through Moscow and it shortens travel time to Bali. (ANTARA)