TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita meets Palestine Economic Minister Abdeer Odeh to sign trade deals. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Minister said that the two nations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on export and import. “Indonesia will provide preferential tariff treatment of 0 percent for dates and olive oil products from Palestine,” he said at his office in Jakarta on Wednesday, Dec. 20.
Indonesia is now waiting for the list of Palestine’s demand for goods. “We said we are ready to export with zero tariffs so that Palestinians will be able to enjoy affordable goods,” Enggartoasto said.
Based on the MoU, Finance Ministry will issue an export regulation which will take effect on January 1, Enggartiasto said.
The Minister said that the trade agreement was signed under the instruction of President Joko Widodo. Indonesia previously signed deals with Palestine through Jordan.
Enggartiasto also met Australia’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Steve Ciobo to discuss Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA).
Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said that trade the two countries had yet to reach a deal and negotiation will be concluded before March 2018.
VINDRY FLORENTIN
