Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto expressed hope that Indonesian automotive products would penetrate the New Zealand market to increase trade value between the two countries, which is currently deficit for Indonesia.

"We are challenged to increase the trade value between the two countries, with a target of doubling the value of US$1.8 billion within the next four years. This target can be achieved if New Zealand opens its automotive market for Indonesia`s products," Hartarto stated here on Thursday after attending an event to mark New Zealand Tech Day titled "Connecting with New Zealand Technology and Solutions."

According to Hartarto, despite the distance between the two countries being relatively less, Indonesian automotive products have not penetrated New Zealand and Australia markets.

"New Zealand and Australia are close to Indonesia. Hence, we want to promote automotive exports," he stated.

Airlangga added that the type of car to most likely be exported to New Zealand is currently the one with a combustion engine, considering that the production of electric cars in Indonesia has not been massive.

Reporting by Sella Panduarsa Gareta
Editing by Libertina, Yoseph Hariyadi

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