"We expect Czech support in an effort to accelerate the negotiation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the European Union. Earlier, President Joko Widodo and the Australian prime minister had finalized the Indonesia-Australia CEPA," Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto noted in a statement received by Antara here, Tuesday.
The statement was made after the minister met the Czech Republic Senate Chairman Milan Stech at the Ministry of Industry in Jakarta.
The minister believes that if the comprehensive bilateral partnership framework is established, it will significantly increase the exports of Indonesian products to the Czech Republic.
"Some of our manufacturing products have the potential to penetrate the Czech market, including textiles and clothing, footwear, wood-based furniture, as well as pulp and paper," he stated.
According to Airlangga, the ministry is attempting to attract Czech investors to invest in Indonesia in the rubber processing industry sector. This is in line with Indonesia`s potential that is included in the world`s largest crumb rubber producers.
"Meanwhile, the Czech Republic has a rubber processing industry that is quite competitive, such as tire factories," he stated, adding that Indonesia has a railroad industry that has been able to produce various components and railway infrastructure, for instance, rolling stock, rail tracks, and signaling systems.
This has become a collaborative opportunity for both countries for technology transfer.
"Indonesia can be used as the basis for the development of a railroad industry. Several countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, have ordered and imported trains from Indonesia," he explained.
On the same occasion, Stech noted that some interesting opportunities lie in industrial cooperation that could be developed by the Czechs.
"We have the Chamber of Commerce and Industry whose members reach 15 thousand from various business sectors," he stated.
Stech noted that the Czech Republic has several leading manufacturing sectors in the global arena, such as automotive, aircraft, and logistics industries.
"We have also produced trains, with a speed of 200 kilometer per hour, at affordable prices," he added.
According to Stech, the Czech Republic also has medical and pharmaceutical component industries.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic has applied advanced technology in the field of hydroenergy, and some products have been exported.
(LWA/INE/B003)
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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