Chinese trade mission expected to boost ties<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A delegation of businesspeople from China will
\narrive in Indonesia in the first quarter of next year to promote
\ntrade and investment, according to the Indonesia-China Economic,
\nSocial and Cultural Cooperation Association.<\/p>\n
The association's chairman Sukamdani S. Gitosardjono said on
\nWednesday the planned visit was a follow-up to President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid's trip to China last month.<\/p>\n
Sukamdani said business delegations from the two countries
\nwould sound out cooperation opportunities in agriculture and
\nstate-owned firms' management, as well as cooperatives and small
\nand medium-scale businesses.<\/p>\n
Potential industrial sectors to be offered for Chinese
\ninvestment would be textile, fertilizer, plywood, steel, rubber,
\npulp and oil, among others.<\/p>\n
Sukamdani said Indonesian businesspeople should not only see
\nChina as a competitor in the international market, but also as a
\npotentially major trading partner.<\/p>\n
He said the value of trade between Indonesia and China had
\nbeen increasing since Indonesia officially reopened diplomatic
\nties with China in 1990.<\/p>\n
He said the value of trade between the two countries rose from
\n$3.23 billion in 1995 to $3.65 billion in 1996 and reached $3.74
\nbillion in 1997, but dropped to $2.7 billion in 1998 due to the
\neconomic crisis.<\/p>\n
This year, trade between the two countries would still be
\nlaggard, with trade value reaching only $1.6 billion as of last
\nMay, but it should recover next year.<\/p>\n
Sukamdani predicted two-way trade would recover to about $3.7
\nbillion next year.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, and most importantly, Indonesia always enjoyed a
\nsurplus in its trade with China between 1994 and 1998.<\/p>\n
Bilateral trade between Indonesia and China, however, has been
\nhampered by restrictive policies applied by the Indonesian
\ngovernment on various matters, from visa applications to Chinese
\nlanguage education.<\/p>\n
"We demand the government lift the existing regulations which
\nban the use and study of Chinese. Understanding Chinese will
\ncertainly help our industry in using and maintaining imported
\nmachines from China," he said.<\/p>\n
As of the end of this year, China's investment in Indonesia
\ntotaled $229.7 million with 58 approved projects.<\/p>\n
According to official data, as of the end August the value of
\nIndonesia's investment in China reached around $300 million. But
\nunofficial reports claim Indonesian businesspeople have invested
\nmore than $1 billion in China. (cst)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chinese-trade-mission-expected-to-boost-ties-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}