Yet both countries still had a chance to increase their trade, Indonesian Ambassador to Fiji A Chandra Salim said after paying a working visit in Pontianak, capital of West Kalimantan, on Tuesday.
"Before the crisis the two-way trade reached US$42 million but now it falls to around US$25 million," he said.
He said trade relations between the two countries had so far favored Indonesia.
To increase the trade relations, a number of efforts had been made by among others inviting Fijian businessmen to take part in trade exhibitions in Indonesia, he said.
"As a result, businessmen of the two countries have signed a number of agreements," he said.
The agreements included the planned purchase of 22 Indonesian-assembled buses by Fijian businessmen. "If one bus is priced at Rp1 billion the trade between the two countries will increase by Rp22 billion," he said.
He said the matter indicated that business opportunities between Indonesia and Fiji were large.
Fiji has an area of 1.3 million sq km, consisting of 330 islands. However,one third of the islands are not inhabited.
Chandra said that he was determined to strengthen trade relations with Fiji because of its strategic position in the South Pacific region.
"There are a total of 20 countries in the South Pacific region. This is very important for Indonesia," he said.
(T.T011/S012/HAJM/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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