Egypt Expected to Become Pacemaker for Indonesia-M. East Trading

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel has received trade cooperation commitment from delegation of Egyptian entrepreneurs during the 60th Asian-African Conference and the Asia-Africa Business Summit in a hope to open potential trade with other Middle Eastern countries.

Nus Nuzulia Ishak, director of national export development at the Trade Ministry, hoped Indonesia’s export products not only stopped in Egypt, but also entered Egypt’s neighboring countries.

According to Nus, Egypt is a potential market for Indonesia because it is a Muslim-majority country, which means halal products are best sellers there. Indonesia’s products of processed food, Muslim fashion, tires and vehicle spare parts have big potentials there.

Nus added that even though there are already many Indonesian products exported to Egypt, they have not reflected maximum potential and opportunities.

Egypt is one of Indonesia’s main partner in Africa. Based on the Central Statistics Agency’s data, total trade value between Indonesia and Egypt in 2014 reached US$1.49 billion, with surplus of Rp1.2 billions for Indonesia.

Over the past five years, trade trends between both countries were recorded at 4.1 percent. Indonesia’s export value to Egypt on January-February 2015 was US$209.25 millions while import was US$14.80 millions, making the surplus for Indonesia US$194.44 millions.

Gobel appreciated the interest of Egyptian entrepreneurs who joined the Egyptian-Indonesian Business Council (EIBC) as it shows that Indonesian products have good qualities. “I ask the EIBC to be in the front line in promoting Indonesian products to Egyptian consumers,” he said.

URSULA FLORENE SONIA