"ASEAN countries, especially Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand, are the main trading partners of exporters from North Sulawesi, with a share of 18.84 percent of the province's total exports, and FOB value of US$211 million in 2022," Prasmuko stated here on Wednesday.
He noted that Malaysia was ranked first as an importer of North Sulawesi, with the products being imported comprising crude coconut oil (CCO), while Singapore generally imported gold.
Prasmuko remarked that Vietnam imports nutmeg. Meanwhile, the Philippines and Thailand each imported cement as well as fresh fish and frozen fish products.
He is optimistic that in future, Indonesia would be able to increase its share of exports to other ASEAN countries, such as Brunei, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
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He also expects that Indonesia can expand the scope of commodities, especially the products of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the province.
"North Sulawesi also hopes that Bitung Port and Samrat Airport can become International Hub Ports (IHP), as export gateways in Eastern Indonesia (KTI)," he stated.
He said Indonesia's exports to the ASEAN in 2022 amounted to US$52.65 billion, with the largest commodity being coal, with 19.88 percent, followed by exports of four-wheeled vehicles, with a share of 4.06 percent.
Meanwhile, other products, such as copper, CPO, and derivatives of CPO, have a share of around four percent.
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Translator: Nancy Lynda Tigauw, Katriana
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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