Trade Minister: Indonesia Seeks Logistics Solutions for Exports to EU at WTO Forum
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Budi Santoso stated that the Indonesian Government is promoting solutions for international trade logistics at the World Trade Organization (WTO) forum with the European Union amid global geopolitical dynamics.
The logistics issue is the primary focus in meetings between the Indonesian delegation and European Union representatives on the sidelines of the WTO forum.
According to Budi in Jakarta on Friday, the Indonesian Government wants to ensure that distribution barriers do not disrupt export-import flows when trade cooperation between the two parties fully commences.
“I have asked our delegation to meet with the European Union team to discuss the future implementation of the EU agreement under current conditions, one of which is actually related to logistics,” he said.
Budi explained that the discussions are intended to prepare for the implementation of the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA), particularly regarding the efficiency of supply chains and cross-regional goods delivery.
According to him, global geopolitical tensions and rising energy costs have triggered changes in international shipping routes and increased transportation costs.
Budi said that this situation could pose a serious challenge to international trade if not anticipated from the outset.
He emphasised that the government does not want the implementation of I-EU CEPA to face technical obstacles in the field due to logistics issues.
“We will seek the most efficient logistics solutions for exports and imports to European Union countries, so that the implementation of I-EU CEPA is not hindered,” Budi stated.
In addition to strengthening international coordination, the government also sees the current global uncertainty as an opportunity to improve the national logistics system.
Regulatory improvements, port efficiency, and simplification of export processes are the main focuses to enhance the competitiveness of Indonesian products in the European market.
The government is optimistic that with logistics readiness and more integrated trade cooperation, Indonesia’s exports to the European Union can grow stronger while expanding market access for national businesses.
“That is one of the opportunities for us to fix it, both from the regulatory side and other policies. We are doing this together with Depalindo to eliminate barriers that hinder our exports,” he explained.