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Indonesia-Chile CEPA negotiations resume after delay
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Delegates from Indonesia and Chile are involved in the second round of discussions in relation to the Indonesia-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Jakarta on Mar. 13.
(Courtesy of/Trade Ministry)
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fter being delayed for more than two years, negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between Indonesia and Chile resumed on Monday and will run until Tuesday.
Iman Pambagyo, international trade negotiations director general with the Trade Ministry, said the negotiations were important for Indonesian trade to penetrate the Latin American market.
“It is crucial to penetrate Chile and other third-world countries in the Latin America region because Chile has dozens of FTAs [free trade agreements] with more than 60 countries worldwide,” he told reporters after opening the second round of negotiations on Monday.
The first round of the negotiations took place on May 23-24, 2014 in Santiago, Chile, but could not be immediately followed up after the change in government.
Iman said both governments wished to see negotiations conclude this year.
Indonesia aims to export more of its crude palm oil (CPO), margarine, vegetable oil, rubber and furniture, besides its current export of footwear and automotive products to the country. Chile’s main exports to Indonesia, meanwhile, are copper and fishery feed.
Total trade between the two countries stands at US$227.15 million. Exports from Indonesia have declined 2.4 percent to $143.81 million, while imports from Chile have decreased drastically by 52.06 percent to $83.34 million, Trade Ministry data shows. (bbn)
