TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has asked for a lower duty fee for exporting fresh fruits to South Korea. The president's chief of staff, Teten Masduki, said Jokowi had the discussion with South Korean president Park Geun-hye di Seoul, Monday.
"This is to even out the fruit import and export transaction balance between the two nations," Teten said as quoted by Antara yesterday, May 16, 2016.
South Korea imposes a duty of up to 200 percent for Indonesian fruits. The high duty makes South Korean buyers hesitant; holding back their business plans.
Teten said Jokowi and Park also signed seven MoUs in the fields of maritime, creative industries, combatting corruption, the restoration of peat forests, defense technology, special economic zones, and clean energy researches.
Before his meeting with President Park, Jokowi held a discussion with South Korean businessmen at the Lotte Hotel. Jokowi invited local investors to do business in Indonesia; promoting the government's breakthroughs and innovations to improve economic climates in the country.
"I will continue to reform, simplify licensing and make Indonesia's economy more open," he said.
Jokowi's visit to South Korea this time brings a considerable amount of investment. Franky Sibarani, head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), said that seven South Korean companies have signed MoUs for an investment commitment of US$18 billion or roughly Rp250 trillion. Franky said Jokowi has instructed the BKPM to follow up on these commitments. "The BKPM and the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul will monitor these business deals," Franky said.
ADITYA BUDIMAN | BAGUS PRASETIYO