Italo-Indonesian trade ties, investments and activities
Italo-Indonesian trade ties, investments and activities
During 1999, bilateral trade between Indonesia and Italy continued to show a surplus of US$379 million in favor of Indonesia. Data from the Central Board of Statistics indicate that Indonesia exported to Italy sports shoes, textile yarns, petroleum products, fixed vegetable oils and coal. The commodities imported from Italy were mainly capital goods, such as industrial equipment, textile and leather machinery and refined petroleum products.
Despite the economic crisis, the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) approved 10 Italian investment projects in 1999 for a total amount of $3 million. The projects are to be carried out mostly by small and medium Italian enterprises (SMEs) in the sectors of ecotourism, furniture, hotels and services. To encourage investments and joint ventures in industrial and technological sectors, with special emphasis on cooperation between SMEs of the two countries, an Italian investment desk has been operating at BKPM's head office in Jakarta since 1997.
Indonesia and Italy have enjoyed a long relationship dating back many years, reinforced by the presence of the Italian Embassy and the Italian Trade Commission (ITC), a government agency that promotes trade and investment between Italy and other countries. The Jakarta ITC office opened in 1981 and provides information and assistance to Indonesian companies interested in dealing with potential Italian counterparts. The ITC represents a major point of reference for SMEs and businesspeople looking for trading partners and opportunities.
In the framework of its annual promotional program for 2000, the ITC invited delegations of prominent Indonesian businesspeople to visit some of the most important fairs in the world which are held in Italy, like the International Agricultural and Animal Farming Exhibition in Verona and the International Exhibition of Shoes and Leather Goods Industry Machinery in Bologna.
An Indonesian delegation is visiting the International Fair of Marble Machinery in Carrara, where it will also have meetings with the Italian Association Marmomacchine.
The ITC took part in Oil & Gas Technology Indonesia at the Jakarta International Exhibition Center. We were present with a so-called PUNTO ITALIA, representing 10 Italian companies with the latest technology in the oil and gas sector.
In addition, we sent two Indonesian BKPM officials to attend a two-month training course in Italy in foreign trade and international cooperation (February-April, 2000).
We will also take part next week, together with the Italian Association of Textile Machinery Producers (ACIMIT), in the 4th edition of Bandung Tex 2000 (June 7 to June 11), where 18 Italian companies will be present.
In today's highly competitive global market, the need to improve the quality of production and to strengthen export- oriented industries is one of Indonesia's top priority acts. Italian capital goods, renowned worldwide for their high quality as well as for flexibility and versatility, can definitely suit the needs of Indonesian manufacturers.
Indonesian businesspeople seeking trade and investment opportunities with Italy or looking for any information on innovative Italian products, can contact our ITC office in JAKARTA, Gedung BRI II, 19th Floor, Suite 1901, Jl. Jend. Sudirman 44-46, Jakarta, 10210, tel: 5713560, fax: 5713561, e- mail: icejkt@indosat.net.id, www.ice.it/estero/giacarta.
Augusto Di Giacinto,
Deputy Trade Commissioner