President Jokowi and Argentine President Mauricio Macri at the Bogor Palace, June 26, 2019. (ANTARA FOTO/Akbar Nugroho Gumay/foc)

Indonesia and Argentine boost partnership in the trade sector

As the beginning effort to enhance the bilateral cooperation in the trade field, Indonesia and Argentine have agreed to establish a Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI).

On Monday, the Trade Ministry's bilateral trade director Ni Made Ayu Marthini said WGTI will be a forum for both countries to exchange information. Since Indonesia and Argentine are located far from one another, which are in Southeast Asia and America, not much information has been provided. Indonesia and Argentine do not know each other completely, the director added.

Later the working group will work as a forum to communicate, to promote and to facilitate both countries. WGTI will release a recommendation for future measures after its three roles work.

The two leaders have suggested business players from both countries to participate in various business events organized in Indonesia and Argentine.

The recommendations made by WGTI will be a foundation to form a free trade agreement (FTA) - Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Indonesia has to ties multilateral partnership with Brazil, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentine, which are Mercosur’s economic and political alliances, in order to establish a trade agreement with Argentine.

On Wednesday, President of Argentinean Mauricio Macri and First Lady Juliana Awada arrived at Bogor Palace to have a state visit before going to Osaka, Japan, for attending the G20 Summit on June 28 – 29 July. Both of them were welcomed by President of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and First Lady Iriana.

It was reported that both of the Presidents would hold a one-on-one meeting and take part in a bilateral forum of the countries' delegations.

Source: https://en.antaranews.com/news/127774/indonesia-argentine-form-wgti-to-intensify-trade-cooperation