(ANTARA ews) – Industry Minister MS Hidayat has predicted that Indonesia`s
non-oil/non-gas exports to Egypt will grow by around 20 percent this
year.
“This year, they will increase 20 percent.
Now, they have already risen 10 percent based on trade volume records
kept by my friends at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry –
(Kadin),” Hidayat said after a breakfast meeting with an Egyptian
delegation at the industry ministry here on Thursday.
Hidayat who is concurrently chairman of Kadin was optimistic that exports to Egypt would reach the growth target.
“Kadin`s
projection should be more optimistic than the government`s. Our main
exports to Egypt include furniture, `halal` food and beverages, as well
as electronic goods which we are now trying to produce in greater
volumes,” he said.
The minister said Egypt and Indonesia
would also establish cooperation in the fields of trade and investment,
at least in four sectors, namely car tyres, household goods, glass
ware, and processed food.
Indonesia would offer Egypt opportunities to invest in food processing and agribusiness, Hidayat said.
Meanwhile,
chairman of the Indonesian Handicraft and Furniture Association Ambar
Tjahjono said the government should encourage efforts to expand
Indonesia`s export market in Egypt.
For the purpose, the
government should among other things open a trade showroom in Egypt,
and not only hold a three-day trade fair, he said.
According to data from the trade ministry, the Indonesia-Egypt trade balance increased 45.2 percent during the period 2004-2008.
The
bilateral trade balance was recorded at one billion US dollars
consisting of US$790.7 million for Indonesia`s exports, and US$210
million for Indonesia`s imports.
From January to October
2009, the bilateral trade balance reached US$632 comprising Indonesia`s
exports worth US$555.1 million, and Egypt`s exports worth US$77.4
million.
Indonesia`s exports to Egypt include oil palm,
fiber, thread, paper products, plywood, coffee, soap, glass ware,
garments, furniture, chemical powder, cotton, rubber products, and
molasses.
Egypt`s exports to Indonesia consist of
phosphate, cotton, molasses, chemical fertilizer, dates, fruits, carpet
cotton thread and textiles. (*)
