TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Italy seeks stronger economic ties with ASEAN
Change Size
The logo, accompanied by a map, of the Italy-ASEAN Association. (Courtesy of/www.itasean.org)
I
taly has expressed interest in strengthening economic ties with Southeast Asia during the first meeting of a two-day event involving high-level dialogue on ASEAN-Italy economic relations starting Monday.
The event, held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta, involves business speakers and political speakers from both Italy and ASEAN member countries.
Italy is serious about its intention to increase investment in ASEAN despite global trends toward protectionism because the country believes that multilateralism and free trade are the future of the global economy, said chairman of the Italy-ASEAN Association Enrico Letta.
Letta also said that Italy would increase its investments in Indonesia, despite ongoing political tension in the country.
“We know very well that Indonesia is facing political tension. We are here despite this tension. We want to bet on Indonesia -- on Indonesia’s future and on the future of the relationship between Europe and Indonesia and Italy,” he said during a press conference.
Meanwhile, Italian Trade Agency president Michele Scannavini said Italy currently ranked 31st in investment in ASEAN with around only 0.1 percent market share.
Meanwhile, data from the Trade Ministry shows that the trade balance between Indonesia and Italy reached US$184.9 million last year, dropping drastically from $504.7 million the previous year. (bbn)
