JAKARTA — Indonesia will launch the Indonesia – United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IUAE-CEPA) early next month (September 2021).

“We warmly welcome the plan to launch the IUAE-CEPA in September. We hope it will strengthen the two countries’ relationships, especially in the sectors of trade, investments, and push up the recovery of economy which is impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi said on Monday, 30 August 2021.

The trade minister said that he and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi will launch the agreement on 02 September 2021. “We hope this agreement will increase our exports,” he said.

The launching will be marked with the signing of a joint ministerial statement on the Launching of Negotiation for IUAE-CEPA. It will also mark the start of first round of negotiations between Indonesia and UAE, which will be held on 2 – 4 September 2021.

Minister Lutfi said that UEA is a strategic business partner of Indonesia. “Ahead of the the Expo 2020 Dubai, the government wants to make use of the momentum to increase our exports to UEA,” he said.

The Expo 2020 Dubai is originally scheduled for 20 October 2020 – 10 April 2021. But due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, it is rescheduled to 1 October 2021 – 31 March 2022 while its name Expo 2020 is maintained.

“Besides, this step will also open opportunities for Indonesian products to penetrate the markets in the Middle East, Africa and Europe,” he was quoted by Antara as saying. The Indonesian products include palm oil products, and woven fabrics.

“The IUAE-CEPA will help generate the economic growth of Indonesia and UAE by increasing the market access of goods, services and investments. It will also increase economic cooperation between the two countries and create new job opportunities in the two countries,” he added. (*)

Source: Suara.com |