"Right now, the value of our trade with Mongolia is relatively small, and we need to increase it," he stated at a business forum held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Friday.
Trade between Indonesia and Mongolia has shown a downward trend in the past four years, he pointed out.
Trade between the two countries had reached US$20.78 million in 2017. The figure rose to $26.01 million the following year, but it plunged to $5.93 million in 2015.
In 2016, the bilateral trade moved up again to $17.45 million and fell slightly to $17.37 million in 2017.
The trade is projected to decline to $9.5 million this year.
Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Mongolian Foreign Ministry Battsetseg Tuvshintugs admitted to the low value of the bilateral trade.
"The time has come for us to increase trade relations again," she stated at the forum.
Mongolia is in need of huge quantities of medicines and other pharmaceutical products from Indonesia, she stated.
On the occasion, Beijing-based Antara journalist took time to introduce the Indonesian news agency`s products to officials of the Mongolian Foreign Ministry and local businessmen.
Chief of the Mongolian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lkhagvajav Baatarjav warmly welcomed the presence of Antara in Mongolia.
"Of course, we are pleased to hear that our country is known by the Indonesian people. Maybe, we will pass on the outcome of the meeting to the leadership of (the Mongolian news agency) Montsami," he added.
Reporting by M. Irfan Ilmie, Suharto
Editing by Rahmad Nasution
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Yosep Hariyadi
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
