REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Foreign buyers from various countries signed trade contracts worth US$97 million with Indonesian exporters at the Indonesia Trade Expo (TEI) 2016 on Wednesday. "The signing of the contracts was very promising. This indicates that Indonesian products are attractive and can compete in the global market," Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, who witnessed the signing of the contracts, stressed.
The signing was also witnessed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartanto and the Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Rosan P Roeslani. Companies that signed the contracts with Indonesian exporters came from Canada, the United States (US), India, Spain, Taiwan, Russia, Australia and Switzerland.
The total value of the contracts is US$97,279,511. Enggartiasto said the trade deal was evidence of the efforts of the Indonesian trade representatives abroad to promote and contribute towards increasing the national exports.
Through these commercial contracts, trade representatives abroad, namely the Trade Attach and Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC), will continue to prove their ability to spearhead support for increasing national exports, noted Enggartiasto. He informed that the biggest contract was signed between Firmenich of Switzerland and exporter Indesso for essential oil products.
Another transaction was in the services sector for skilled labor. It was signed between Aboard Group International Alliance of Australia and Sukamulia Mandiri PT Agung. "The services sector has a great opportunity to spearhead Indonesia's exports. It could still be optimized to boost Indonesian exports," the minister acknowledged.
Cement products also secured a commercial contract, among others, between Taiwan Lead Data Inc. from Taiwan and PT Semen Tonasa. Contracts were also signed between an American furniture manufacturer from the United States and CV. Decorus; Teak Heirlooms of India and Sungging Elephant Carving; Moycor VIC, S.L. from Spain and CV Abad Jepara; and The Object/Indonesia Trade House and CV. Kina Citratama.
More contracts were signed between Axia Distributors Corp. of Canada and PT. Kalibaru for anti-fatigue mats, floor mats, cutting boards and modular tiles and also between Jans Enterprises of the US and PT Two Rabbits for food and beverage products. Bumble Bee Seafoods from the US and PT Treasure ocean signed a contract for marine products.
These contracts were signed during the first session of the business deals at the JIExpo on Wednesday. More contracts will be signed in the next session on the same day with companies from Belgium, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore and Nigeria. "Commercial contract transactions will continue from the first day right till the concluding day of TEI, 2016. I am optimistic and confident that TEI 2016 will be able to boost national exports," Enggartiasto underlined.