Government pushes for opening export markets to the European Union

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto stated that the government is continuously pushing for the opening of new export markets, including to the European Union, to maintain growth amid global uncertainties. He said that expanding global markets is one of the government’s strategies in responding to the slowdown in exports and world economic dynamics. “Government measures related to exports, in this uncertain situation, one of which is to open wider markets,” said Airlangga at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, Jakarta, on Tuesday. He explained that the government is communicating with the European Union to encourage the ratification process of the trade agreement so that it can proceed according to the expected timeline. “If this can be completed, we hope that the European market can open with zero import duties on 1 January next year,” he said. Airlangga added that the opening of this market access is expected to increase the competitiveness of Indonesian products in the global market. In addition to the European Union, the government is also promoting the utilisation of trade cooperation with other countries, including Canada. He mentioned that Indonesia has a free trade agreement (FTA) with Canada that can be utilised to expand exports.