Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is exploring various potential areas for multi-sector trade cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean nations through the Indonesia-Latin America and the Caribbean (INA-LAC) business forum.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Director of America II, Darianto Harsono, noted in Jakarta on Monday that currently, the cooperation is adopting a multi-sectoral approach.

"We are looking at the food and beverage, paper and pulp, as well as our strategic industry, such as businesses from the state-owned train manufacturing company, PT INKA," he noted.

He also highlighted other sectors, including machinery, medicine, and outdoor furniture.

Commodities including fruits, especially grapes, and beef are favored by countries in the region.

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During the first day of the business forum, scheduled on Oct 14-15, business makers and country representatives visited the Sinarmas Pulp and Paper factories. Harsono stated that the pulp and paper factory was selected in the face of a rising trend in the demand for paper products from Latin American nations.

Harsono is also keen to introduce Sinarmas as one of the Indonesian companies that was viewed as having conducted business well.

He explained that the forum seeks to help all stakeholders further identify each other.

"We have yet to maximize the potentials of economic and business cooperation with the Latin American region. We hope the forum would allow Indonesian and Latin American entrepreneurs to get to know each other better," he noted.

Similar hopes were echoed by Counsellor of the Cuban Embassy,Bryan Gual Navarrete, who believes business can contribute to the efforts to boost trade activities, particularly between Indonesia and Cuba. Navarrete believed that trade activities between the two countries can be intensified further.

"This is a very good initiative for us Latin American and Caribbean countries to know more about business opportunities with Indonesia," he added.

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Translator: Suwanti/Aria Cindyara
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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