Palangka Raya, C Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Central Kalimantan provincial government is optimizing the 2023 China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning, Guangxi Province, China, to promote the region's featured products.

Deputy Governor of Central Kalimantan Edy Pratowo, in a statement received in Palangka Raya, on Sunday, noted that the international event has become a strategic opportunity to develop and promote the province's featured products in foreign markets.

"We hope that Central Kalimantan's foreign trade will further improve and we also aim to facilitate more IKM (small and medium industries) players from the province to go global," he said.

He then noted that the provincial government's efforts to promote local featured products are in line with its 2021-2026 mission to expedite the development of a productive, creative, and eco-friendly regional economy.

Furthermore, the deputy governor affirmed that his side is currently making utmost efforts to increase the province's exports, including by implementing policies that are beneficial to existing exporters, prospective or potential exporters, and other IKM players.

Pratowo also underscored the important role played by the province's regional crafts council (Dekranasda) in supporting the provincial government to guide and develop IKMs to improve the region's welfare.

"We must treat and position active IKM players as part of assets and main pillars of regional and national economies," he pointed out.

At the international event, the provincial government is promoting its potential through the "City of Charms" Pavilion and Commodity Pavilion by involving actors in the tourism sector, cultural dance studios, IKM players, as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises.

Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and several leaders of Southeast Asian countries personally attended the opening ceremony of the 2023 CAEXPO.

Meanwhile, Head of Central Kalimantan's Dekranasda Yulistra Ivo and several officials joined Deputy Governor Pratowo to accompany the vice president at the event.

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Translator: Muhammad Arif, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Sri Haryati
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