EU Delegation Conducts Virtual Working Visit to Maluku

Jakarta: The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Indonesia conducted on Monday a virtual working visit to Maluku to discuss bilateral trade and investment opportunities with stakeholders in the province.
 
"Maluku Province, and eastern Indonesia in general, has a lot of untapped potential for greater trade and investment with Europe. The successful completion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), currently being negotiated by the EU and Indonesia, will boost trade and facilitate investment for both sides. It will create jobs and economic growth," The EU Ambassador to Indonesia Vincent Piket said in a press release on Monday.
 
"For over 30 years, the EU has partnered with Indonesia to address joint priorities including in trade and investment areas. Last year the EU launched the 5-year ARISE+ Indonesia Trade Support Facility programme (EUR 15 million). The programme gives technical support to the Indonesian government and to companies to improve their export capacity and to meet the rules and standards for international trade," said EU Ambassador Piket. 

According to him, the programme includes assistance for dealing with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) issues in fisheries and nutmeg, two sectors of great importance for Maluku Province. Fish and shrimp are Maluku’s the biggest export items.  In the period of January-October 2020, the export value of fish and shrimp was USD 37.25 million, i.e. 74.21% share of the province’s total export.
 
During the virtual working visit, the EU Delegation, in cooperation with the Maluku  Provincial Government and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) Maluku, organised a panel discussion on the benefits of the CEPA. The panel presented Marika Jakas, Head of Trade and Economic Section at the EU Delegation to Indonesia; Olvy Andrianita, Director of Export Product Development, Ministry of Trade; Wahyuni Bahar,  Chairman of the Standing Committee for Multilateral Institutions and Free Trade Agreements, KADIN Indonesia; and Wichard von Harrach, Vice Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia (EuroCham).
 
A session was also held to discuss the potential for exports to European countries, presenting Dr Anton Lailossa, Head of the Regional Development Planning Agency (BAPPEDA) Maluku Province; Sylvie Coulon, Policy Officer of the Directorate of Health and Food Safety of the European Commission; and Elvis Pattiselano, Head of the Industry and Trade Office, Maluku Province. During the discussion, Sylvie Coulon explained the requirements to export fish and shrimp, two major export products of Maluku, to Europe. The demand for fisheries products in Europe has been growing in recent years. With its large and affluent customers, the EU is an attractive option for Maluku to expand and diversify its export market.
 
The event ended with a session on investment opportunities and business partnerships featuring Frederic Fontan, the Deputy Head of the Energy Working Group for Power Generation of EuroCham; Sam Latuconsina, Chairman of the Maluku Province KADIN; and Suryadi Sabirin, Head of the One-Stop Investment Licensing Service Office (PMPTSP).
 
The EU continues to enhance its relations and cooperation with the Indonesian government. After Maluku, similar working visits on trade and investment opportunities will be held in 2021 with the provincial governments of Central Java, South Sumatra and East Kalimantan.
 
Cek Berita dan Artikel yang lain di Google News