Simbol Kementerian Perdagangan
Jakarta, ANTARA News) - Director General of International Trade Negotiations from the Ministry of Trade Iman Pambagyo hopes that Indonesia would become the hub for trade networks for ASEAN member countries.

"By actively participating in international trade, we hope Indonesia can have a place as the trade hub of South East Asia," he stated in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He further explained that there is no country in the world that has succeeded in prospering and achieving welfare by closing its economy. Therefore, there are still many countries currently presenting the process of accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"It showed that the developing countries also believed that integrating into the multilateral trading system at the WTO is a path that needed to be taken," he remarked.

This, he continued, showed that international trade has benefits and needs just an arrangement to implement it.

"So far, no WTO member has resigned. Instead, people are busy submitting accession," he added.

For this reason, Indonesia continued to strive to improve international trade through various partnership agreements.

That way, the goal of making Indonesia a trade hub for countries in ASEAN can be realized.

"Now, there are countries that have established embassies for ASEAN in Jakarta. We are also building Jakarta as the diplomatic capital and commercial center of ASEAN," he revealed.

He believed that it can be beneficial for Indonesia, especially in terms of economic gains, in the field of tourism, hospitality, and culinary.

Reporting by Sella Panduarsa Gareta, Aria Cindyara
Editing by Suharto

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018