Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Peru has growing potential as a trade partner with Indonesia because there is significant trade between the two countries, which can still be increased, Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said here on Friday.

"There is a lot of common ground between Peru and Indonesia and the country is one of our potential trade partners," the trade minister said in a written statement about bilateral talks with his Peruvian counterpart, Jose Luis Silva Martinot, which took place in Lima on Friday.

In those discussions, Gita hinted that Indonesia seeks to expand cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, and investment with Peru.

The Indonesian trade minister also explained that Peru was important for Indonesia because it is the sixth-largest economic power in Latin America, with a gross domestic product of US$275.7 billion.

Gita noted that total trade between Indonesia and Peru in 2011 stood at US$213.4 million, rising 69.8 percent from 2010.

He also said Indonesia`s export value to Peru in 2011 was US$162 million, increasing 71.9 percent y-o-y, while the import value from Peru in the same year was US$51.4 million, rising 76.3 percent y-o-y.

The minister further added that Peru was an important partner for Indonesia because the country was the initiator of the Latin American Pacific Alliance.

(O001/KR-BSR)

Editor: Suryanto
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