The Netherlands to renew economic tie with Indonesia
The Netherlands to renew economic tie with Indonesia
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Netherlands is planning to renew its economic ties with
Indonesia through the provision of a number of incentives and
assistance.
This would include support for the development of the country's
agriculture and fishery industries, as well as the reconstruction
of tsunami-stricken Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.
"We'd like to renew our relationship with Indonesia under the
new government. I will offer my support for the reconstruction of
Aceh and suggest better cooperation between us," said visiting
Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Laurens Jan Brinkhorst after a
meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Monday.
Brinkhorst said among concrete efforts provided by the
Netherlands would be assistance for Indonesian fishermen, in
improving the quality of their products in a bid to prevent them
from being rejected by the European market.
European countries have often rejected Indonesian shrimps due
to their high level of antibiotics -- which may cause diseases in
human beings -- following the lack of laboratory facilities that
enable fishermen to comply with the international market
standard.
Brinkhorst also said the Netherlands would assist and support
Indonesia in the upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting
at the end of this year in Hong Kong, in persuading the European
Union to reduce its import tariff on agricultural products.
"The Netherlands, as part of the EU, has always been in favor
of trying to reduce import tariffs imposed on developing
countries, including Indonesia, in the framework of the WTO," he
said.
During his visit to Indonesia, Brinkhorst signed a memorandum
of understanding (MOU) with Coordinating Minister for the Economy
Aburizal Bakrie to extend the program on Emerging Markets
Cooperation.
The program is aimed at achieving sustainable economic growth
and poverty alleviation via cooperation between the Dutch and
Indonesian private sectors.
Regarding the reconstruction of Aceh, Brinkhorst said the
Netherlands was interested in granting local fishermen used
fishing vessels.
The program is part of the EU's policies to help tsunami-
affected countries by providing advanced fishing facilities, as
well as widening the market for fish products by reducing import
duties and increasing product quotas.
In addition, the Netherlands private sector is exploring the
possibilities of reconstructing damaged seaports as well as
improving coastal management in the area, since the Netherlands
has expertise in canal and water management, said Brinkhorst.