Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - France was Europe`s biggest importer of handicrafts and non-oil/non-gas commodities from Bali in the January-July period in 2010 with the imports reaching a total value of 30.1 million US dollars, a local trade official said.
The Balinese exports figure to France represented an increase of 50 percent compared to that in the same period of 2009 when they were recorded at 20.1 million US dollars, Putu Bagiada, head of export affairs at Bali`s trade and industry office, said here on Wednesday.
The prospects of Bali`s foreign trade, especially with France, seemed to become increasingly bright. Moreover, air services between Europe and Bali have been increased.
But overall, France has remained in the third place among countries importing Balinese handicrafts and non-oil/non-gas commodities in 2010 . In fourth place was the USA with imports worth 58.3 million US dollars and Japan in fifth place with imports worth 53.9 million US dollars.
French tourists coming to Bali were mostly businesspeople who also bought handicrafts directly in Bali to be resold in their country.
Bagiada said after France, the second biggest European importer of Balinese handicrafts handicrafts was Italy, followed by Spain, United Kingdom and Germany.
In the period under review, Italy imported 20.8 million US dollars worth of Balinese handicrafts, up 25 percent from the same period in 2009 when the figure was 16.5 million US dollars.
The number of European tourists coming to Bali also had an effect on handicraft and souvenir sales on the island, he said. (*)
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