REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia was committed to boost its trade to Colombia as Indonesian Business Forum went to Bogota of Colombia last Wednesday to attract some companies. Colombia was interested to cooperate on sugar, palm oil, rubber, cocoa, tourism, and export of cattle and beef.
"The forum successfully attracted at least 40 participants represented Colombia's companies," Director General of National Export Development of Ministry of Trade, Gusmardi Bustami, said on the press release.
Colombia is geographically far from Indonesia, yet it is not an obstacle to intensify the trading cooperation. Bustami said the most important thing was to bridge the obstacles in the form of geographic, language, and culture.
"Communication and information exchange must be intensified to know each other," he said.
Meanwhile, Colombia's Vice Minister of Trade Gabriel Andre Duque, attending the Indonesian Business Forum, said Colombia, with strategic position, could be the gate for Indonesia to enter the states within the region. Duque said Colombia was interested to cooperate on sugar, palm oil, rubber, cocoa, tourism, and export of cattle and beef.
Colombia also sees Indonesia as priority country in Asia. He hopes both countries can soon sign Memorandum of Understanding or Trade Agreement.