"One (promotion center) is here and the other one must be in Guangzhou," he said after inaugurating the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) in Shanghai.
Shanghai is the largest business city in China, while Guangzhou is a trading city that is geographically not too far from Indonesia.
Indonesia has lagged far behind in comparison with other countries, especially in the Southeast Asian region, in promoting its superior products in China, according to him. Moreover, Indonesia has a trade deficit with China of US$18.5 billion from January to May 2019.
"ITPC is very important in promoting our products in big countries such as China," he said.
With the launch of the ITPC in Shanghai, the Ministry of Trade now has 19 such units in various countries.
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The Minister of Trade invited other agencies to maximize the functions of the ITPC located at the 10th floor of the Shanghai Mart, West Yan'an Road, or in the same building as the Indonesian Consulate General in Shanghai but in different floors.
"The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of State Enterprises might be able to send apprenticeship workers here so that they do not only handle administration in the office," he added.
The ITPC showcases several products from the archipelago, such as food and beverages, as well as handicrafts.
In the Shanghai Mart building, there are several showrooms from a number of countries, including South Korea which is adjacent to the ITPC.
Present at the inauguration of the ITPC was Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun, Acting Indonesian Consul General in Shanghai Widia P Gultom, Attaché of Trade of the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing Marina Novira, and officials of the Ministry of Trade.
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Translator: M. Irfan Ilmie/Eliswan Azly
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
