Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has appealed to the Serbian government to give more market access to Indonesian products.

"Indonesia expects that the market access for its products (in Serbia) can be expanded," President Jokowi said in a joint press statement with visiting Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic at the Merdeka Palace here on Wednesday.

Trade between the two countries rose by an impressive 85 percent in the past five years, Jokowi said without elaborating on absolute numbers.

Therefore, he added, Indonesia wanted tariffs and non-tariff barriers which have been impeding the bilateral trade to be reduced or scrapped altogether.

"Indonesian investment in Serbia, particularly in the food industry, has shown an upward trend. The Serbian president has thrown his weight behind Indonesian investments in Serbia," he said.

Jokowi said Nikolics visit to Indonesia is a special honor for the country as he is the first Serbian president to visit Indonesia in 58 years.

He said Indonesia and Serbia have strong historical ties as the two countries played a crucial role in conceiving and nurturing the Non-Aligned Movement.

"Today, we discussed ways to enhance concrete cooperation between the two countries," he said. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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