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Indonesia to resume free-trade talks

From Business Asia One
March 19, 2015

Indonesia will resume free trade and economic partnership negotiations with important trading partners as President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration steps up efforts to boost exports amid the country's economic slowdown.

Bachrul Chairi, director general for international trade co-operation at the Trade Ministry, said the resumption of the negotiations was one of the government's key programs to improve the country's international trade, which often suffered a deficit due to weak exports.

Among the resumed negotiations on free trade agreements (FTAs) and comprehensive economic partnership agreements (CEPAs) include those with Australia, Chile, the European Union (EU), India, Iran, South Korea and Turkey, according to Bachrul.

The negotiations have been ongoing for several years, but have shown no significant progress. Some of the trade talks have even been delayed.

Bachrul added that the government was also reviewing a potential agreement with the US, but did not provide further details of whether it would be bilateral or under the current negotiations of the regional Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

For detailed story, click here.

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