TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in his opening speech in a Virtual Event of Trade Expo Indonesia on Tuesday, November 10, invited all parties to boost the country’s exports.

“I invite all of us, exporters, all officials at the Ministry of Trade, governors, up to representatives of Indonesia abroad to move faster, be more solid, and more integrated. Act more, instead of just making plans,” said the President.

Widodo emphasized that Indonesia's representatives abroad, starting from ambassadors, ambassadors to the World Trade Organization, trade attaches, up to the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) must be proactive in offering the country’s potentials.

He hoped ITPC could become an export business agent. “Not only marketing [the products] but also negotiating, selling, and deciding the prices,” he added.

Indonesia, the president continued, must not be pessimistic in dealing with the current hard times of the Covid-19 pandemic. “When the global trade is slowing down, we have to move faster, be more agile, and more responsive,” Widodo remarked.

All states are facing the same challenges, particularly disruption of supply and demand, he argued. The WTO projected that the world trade volume would shrink by 9.2 percent in 2020.

However, Indonesia must be smart in seizing opportunities so that it could compete once the situation returns to normal.

Jokowi further pushed all to keep seeking new markets for export. “Explore non-traditional markets with a new strategy, a new approach, and set a bigger achievement target for domestic business actors, especially small and medium enterprises,” he said.

Read: Public Satisfaction with Jokowi Dwindles in Times of Pandemic: Pollster

MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO