Indonesia exports prospective in Middle East, New Zealand markets
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Director General for Asia-Pacific and African Affairs at the Foreign Affairs Ministry Primo Alui Joelianto said Indonesian non-oil and gas exports to the Middle East as well as to New Zealand have good prospects, reports said here on Thursday.
In the opening of Indonesia, Middle East, and New Zealand Business Forum on the third day of the 23rd Indonesian Trade Expo Indonesia, Joelianto said Indonesia needs to increase trade cooperation with these countries.
"Diversification is essential not to become too dependent on traditional markets such as the US, EU, Japan and Singapore," he said.
He said further that the opportunities surfaced because of limited raw materials for certain products, high demand for imported products and commodities in Middle Eastern countries, and low national production capacity in meeting domestic needs.
Meanwhile, Bachrul Chairi, head of the National Agency for Export Development (NAFED) of the Ministry of Trade supported market diversification which also included small and medium enterprises as one of the government`s alternative solution in anticipating the adverse effects of the current global financial crisis.
"The government hopes the national export target by the end of 2008 would still reached 12.5 percent in view of the 30 percent increase in exports in the January-August 2008," he said.
However he mentioned some obstacles such as the issue of halal certificate for fishery products for the United Arab Emirates and the facilitation to emerge in the New Zealand market.
On the same ocassion, a business guide book has information on the UAE written by Wahid Supriyadi, Indonesian ambassador to that country launched in hope of encouraging entrepreneurs and business people to increase cooperations.
