However, the figure has not fully reflected the potentials of the two countriesJakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi encouraged the promotion of concrete economic cooperation between Indonesia and Kenya during a meeting with her Kenyan counterpart Monica Juma.
The meeting between the two foreign ministers took place on the sidelines of the 12th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) held in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said in a written statement released on Friday.
Trade between Indonesia and Kenya increased an average of 17 percent in each of the past three years. In 2018 alone, the bilateral trade reached US$317 million.
"However, the figure has not fully reflected the potentials of the two countries," she said.
At the meeting, Minister Retno stated that one of the effective ways to enhance trade relations between the two nations is to reduce import duties.
For its part, besides encouraging the possibility of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA with Kenya, Minister Retno once again reminded Kenya of the proposal to create PTA between Indonesia and East African Community (EAC) of which Kenya is a member. EAC offers Common External Tariff (CET).
Through the PTA, the two countries' access to each other's market will increasingly become more open and bring welfare to the people of the two countries.
The Indonesian foreign minister said following the Indonesia-Africa Infrastructure Dialogue (IAID) held in August 2019, Indonesia hoped for more concrete cooperation with Kenya. In this regard, the two ministers agreed to closer cooperation particularly in the field of infrastructures and connectivity.
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Translator: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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