REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, HONGKONG -- Indonesian products such as honey, brown paper, biscuits, and towels are in high demand among the local businessmen, according to Indonesian Trade Consul of the Indonesian Consulate General Natan Kambuno.
"I have only been assigned here (Hong Kong) for a month, and there are a number of entrepreneurs who want to buy products from Indonesia. They really come here and ask for it," Kambuno informed several reporters at his office in Hong Kong on Tuesday.
Natan noted that the local businessmen have shown keen interest to buy Indonesian products, but their sale is still hampered by the lack of accurate information about the companies seeking to become business partners.
This is because Hong Kong businessmen are still reluctant to make business deals through the internet.
These doubts could be laid to rest if there is a valid "database" on companies maintained by a government-authorized body.
Natan remarked that the online database can also be sold to entrepreneurs, which can help to simplify the workflow for businessmen.
"The government's task is to facilitate or bridge the gaps between both Hong Kong and Indonesian businessmen. The Indonesian government must also hold a large promotion campaign," Natan emphasized.
The North Sulawesi Government has sent several journalists belonging to the online, print, radio, and television media to Hong Kong and Shenzhen (China) to gather information on the special economic zones (SEZ).
The assignment is associated with China's plan to invest trillions in the near future in the SEZ in Bitung, which is one of the cities in North Sulawesi.