Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong is scheduled to visit India and meet with Indian Trade Minister on Jan. 28-29 to follow up on a pledge to collaborate, Indonesian Ambassador to India Rizali Wilmar Indrakesuma has said.

In the trade collaboration with India, Thomas said Indonesia would focus on two things, namely pharmaceuticals with a focus on generic medicine and rice imports from India.

Collaboration in pharmaceuticals was initiated by President Joko "Jokowi" Widowo after meeting with Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on Nov. 11, 2015. The plan to import rice was confirmed on Thursday by Thomas, who said he would propose an MoU to India.

Collaboration in pharmaceuticals is seen as a positive step as India is the biggest producer of generic medicine in the world. Indonesia AIDS Coalition (IAC) executive director Aditya Wardhana expressed hoped that Indonesia could also learn something from India.

"Indian medicinal policy really supports its people. It utilizes the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights [TRIPS] agreement by the World Trade Organization to produce affordable generic medicine," Aditya told thejakartapost.com recently.

He gave as an example Sovaldi, a branded medicine to treat hepatitis C. He stressed that it cost US$1,000 per pill, not per box. Hepatitis C patients around the world protested the price, but no country openly supported the protest except for India. Utilizing the TRIPS agreement flexibility, if there are public objections to a patent, a patent registration can be canceled.

"From there the Indian pharmaceutical company could produce the generic version called Sofosbufir, and it is affordable, around $7 per pill," Aditya explained.

In reference to trade, Ambassador Rizali voiced hope that it would enhance relations between two countries. He said that many things had been initiated, the last being the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Arrangement (CECA) in 2011 by then trade minister Mari Elka Pangestu.

"But results of the follow up cannot be felt now. Chemistry must be built not only between governments but also between Indonesian and Indian businesspeople. Indonesian businesspeople remain wary of Indian businessmen and vice versa," said Rizali.

Rizali also expressed hope that pharmaceutical and rice trade would help Indonesian and Indian businessmen get to know each other better.

"India is a big market and has the highest economic growth in Asia. Maybe it won't replace China as Indonesia's main trading partner, but by looking more to India, we could have alternatives and diversification for our economy," Rizali explained. (dan)(+)

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