Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi said that the holding of Indonesia-Latin America and the Caribbean (INA-LAC) Business Forum 2020 brought good news to Indonesian Small and Medium Enterprises (UKM) entrepreneurs.
Beside the several Ministers of the Working Cabinet and Bank Indonesia (BI), this forum was attended by several Ministers from the Latin American and Caribbean regions. They are the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile, as Chair of the Pacific Alliance, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, as Chair of MERCOSUR, and Secretary General of the Central American Integration System Organization (SICA) representing the Central American countries.
This activity, said Retno, was part of economic diplomacy to diversify Indonesia’s export market during the pandemic. This activity was also attended by more than 500 businessmen from Indonesia and the Latin American and Caribbean region.
“This activity has also resulted a business agreement worth around US $ 71.02 million (equivalent to Rp. 999 billion, assuming Rp. 14,075 / US $) in furniture, handicrafts, souvenirs, tires, food and beverage products, coconut charcoal involving Indonesian MSME products. , “said Retno in a virtual press conference on Tuesday (10/11/2020).
“The transaction value is double compared to the achievements of INA-LAC in 2019,” he continued.
In the event, there were several agreements resulted in a series of meetings, such as the MoU on Halal Product Guarantee Cooperation between RI and Chile; MoU Cooperation between PT Sarinah (Persero) and Dufry International AG and Grupo Industrial Omega SA de CV; MoU on Cooperation between Naza Art Furniture-CAMCO Rattan Muebles; MoU on Cooperation between PT INUKI (Persero) and ININ Mexico; and MoU on Cooperation between PHRI (Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants) -AHORA Peru.
During the meeting, Retno also inaugurated the INA-LAC Business Forum Digital Platform which contained business information as well as Indonesia’s potential export products as well as 108 investment projects in several provinces.
“This platform is to facilitate the interaction of Indonesian entrepreneurs and the Latin American and Caribbean regions, which have been felt to be remote due to geographical distance,” he said.
This virtual activity also facilitates no less than 31 business-to-business (b-to-b) meetings, including the signing of a cooperation agreement between the BADAX (Brazil) company and GAPMMI (Indonesian Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs Association) regarding the opening of outlets. Indonesia (Indonesia Trading Houses) in Brazil.
In addition, a business agreement between the BADAX company and the Kokola Group (Indonesia) is planned at the end of the activity.
“Through this activity and the launch of a digital platform, the interaction of entrepreneurs will continue to be facilitated so as to increase the value of Indonesia’s trade with 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean,” he added.
Original article: https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20201110161609-4-200789/ada-kabar-baik-buat-ukm-ri-dari-bu-menlu-retno
