We have received courtesy calls from various countries to discuss long-term trade cooperation."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The five-day Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2016, which kicked off on Wednesday, is expected to create opportunities for long-term business cooperation, in addition to direct business transactions during the event, the trade minister said.

"Business relations established (during the expo) are a precious asset. In addition to direct transactions, TEI (can bring in) long-term investment," trade minister Enggartiasto Lukita said at the opening of TEI 2016 at Kemayoran JI-Expo in the Capital on Wednesday.

The ministry has encouraged domestic exporters to enter into trade contracts with foreign buyers and explore international markets.

"We have received courtesy calls from various countries to discuss long-term trade cooperation," he said.

Around 1,100 Indonesian companies are participating in the expo, as are 15,562 businessmen from 120 countries.

The ministry has set a business transactions target of US$800 million for the expo; transaction commitments from 14 countries have already touched around Rp2.6 trillion. In total, it hopes to see transactions worth some US$1 billion, from service and investment transactions, during the expo.

Last year, the TEI recorded transactions worth US$909 million.

(Reported by Vicki Febrianto/Uu.F001/INE/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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