TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Nasution said Indonesia is ready to explore economic cooperation with France.

He mentioned that France is a strategic trading partner for Indonesia.

Nasution made the statement during a meeting with French Ambassador to Indonesia H.E. Mrs. Corrine Breuzé, on Friday, (July 29).

"I believe that the economy of Indonesia and France are complementary. Therefore, it is important to increase economic cooperation in several sectors," he said on Saturday (30/7).

Based on data released by the Ministry of Trade in 2015, the total trade volume between Indonesia and France amounted to US $ 2.3 billion. This figure decreased by 9.4 percent compared to that of the previous period, which reached US $ 2.35 billion, while French investment realization in Indonesia was US $ 131.6 million for 197 projects.

The business that is in great demand among French investors in Indonesia are among others, transportation, communications, electricity, gas, water, food industry, chemical and pharmaceutical goods sectors.

Nasution further said the investment realization bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and France in the future could be further increased and spread particularly in eastern Indonesia.

Therefore, in order to boost the value of the investment, the Indonesian Government has made a breakthrough through a series of Economic Policy Package issued since September 2015.

"This package contains a variety of policies ranging from streamlining the investment license, the revised negative list of investment, the acceleration of infrastructure development and more," the minister said.

DESTRIANITA