"The workshop is the first of its kind and offers a good opportunity to introduce Palestinian goods and services to potential trade partners in Indonesia," Secretary of the Directorate General of International Trade Negotiations Moga Simatupang noted in an official statement released on Thursday.
Indonesian businessmen are capable of discerning potential products and investment to forge cooperation with Palestine, he noted.
Related news: Indonesia condemns demolition of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem
The workshop is part of a series of activities conducted by the Palestinian trade mission in Indonesia. The workshop was opened by Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Zuhair Al Shun and attended by Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Commerce and Industry for the Middle East Mufti Hamka Hasan and the delegation of the Palestinian trade mission.
As a partner of the Palestinian National Economy Ministry at the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC) Trade Working Group, Indonesia still holds huge opportunity to deepen trade relations with Palestine, Simatupang remarked.
The Indonesian government plans to grant facilities to Palestinian products exported to Indonesia as a manifestation of the government's concrete support to intensify trade relations.
Related news: Indonesia attends CEAPAD Meeting in Palestine
According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), trade between Indonesia and Palestine had reached US$3.5 million in 2018. Indonesia's exports to Palestinian were valued at $2.8 million in 2018, up 34 percent as compared to 2017, while its imports from Palestine were worth $727 thousand.
Indonesia's exports to Palestine comprised extract, essence, and concentrate of coffee and tea as well as pasta, bread, cakes, biscuits, and bread shop appliances, while its imports from Palestine encompassed fresh or dried dates and olive oil.
The import of the two Palestinian products was earlier subject to most favored nation (MFN) tariffs. Related news: First ever Palestinian cultural night held in Indonesia
Translator: Sella Panduarsa Gareta, Suhart
Editor: Azizah Fitriyanti
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