Poland calls on Indonesian firms to join economic forum
Poland calls on Indonesian firms to join economic forum
JAKARTA (JP): The Polish government called on Indonesian
companies to participate in its first economic forum with
Southeast Asian countries due to be held in Warsaw on Sept. 2 to
Sept. 3.
"I hope they see the forum as a great opportunity to sound out
the possibilities of doing business with my country's firms," the
commercial counselor at the Polish Embassy, Boguslawa
Barankiewicz, said yesterday.
She pointed out that the forum aims to look into the
possibilities of trade and investment cooperation and exchanging
information on regulations concerning tariffs, taxes and the
climate for foreign investment.
"The forum will also provide information on access to the
markets in Poland and Southeast Asian countries," said
Barankiewicz, who was accompanied by Commercial Attache Marek
Kijewski and Deputy Commercial Attache Artur Dabkowski.
According to her, the economic forum is being organized by
United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Polish
Foreign Investment Agency and the Polish Chamber of Commerce and
Industry.
Barankiewicz said that many companies from other countries in
Southeast Asia have registered to participate, but no Indonesian
companies have as yet.
"We have also invited representatives of CEFTA (Czech
Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia) as well as from China,
Japan, and South Korea as observers," she said.
She noted that there are 170 Polish companies interested in
cooperation with firms in Southeast Asia.
Barankiewicz said that there is ample opportunity for
Indonesia and Poland to expand their trade relations. "I think
there are still potential sectors that haven't yet been tapped by
both sides to expand business relations," she said.
She cited that last year Indonesian exports to Poland were
mostly agricultural products, notably coffee which accounted for
32.9 percent the total volume.
Last years, Indonesian imports from Poland amounted to
US$50.8 million against $44.8 million in 1994. Its exports to
Poland totaled $105.4 million against $98.7 million in 1994.
Poland's exports to Indonesia consist of powdered milk, steel
products, machinery and equipment, and chemical products.
According to her, the economic reforms introduced in early
1990 have widely opened the Polish market to imports.
She said Indonesian products can enter the Polish market duty
free, but those from countries whose per capita income is higher
than Poland are subject to 10 to 20 tariffs. (13)