Firm urged to boost trade with OIC members

Firm urged to boost trade with OIC members

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto called on domestic companies
here yesterday to boost trade with other members of the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

The President said that enhancing trade activities with other
OIC member countries is important within the context of improving
Indonesia's exports.

"Indonesia's exports to the other OIC members are still very
low, accounting for only one-tenth of the country's total
exports. The opportunity to boost the trade with those countries
is undoubtedly tremendous," he said in his address at the opening
of a trade exhibition of OIC members.

The OIC trade exhibition, held in tandem with Indonesia's 11th
export product and youth entrepreneurship exhibition, is
conducted as part of the organization's chamber of commerce's
annual meeting.

Indonesian exports to OIC members increased by 14 percent per
annum in the last five years, said Soeharto.

Indonesian exports to the OIC members reached US$3.1 billion
in 1995, an increase of around 80 percent from $1.7 billion in
1991.

Soeharto acknowledged that a number of problems, such as the
lack of direct sea and air links, and poor sales promotion of
Indonesian products, still impede exports to other Islamic
countries.

"OIC members still find it easier to procure consumer products
and other goods, from European countries," the President said.

Indonesia still has the opportunity to tap the growing
business potential of OIC members, should it be able to boost its
sales promotion in those countries, he said.

"With the ongoing exhibition and the improving relations with
those countries, we will be able to minimize difficulties," he
added.

Soeharto outlined the importance to Indonesian businessmen of
further accelerating non-oil exports.

The role of non-oil exports in the country's economy will be
more important in coming years, particularly in reducing the
country's growing current account deficits, he said. (hen)