Indonesia seeks to expand export market to Africa, Latin America

The Indonesian government plans to penetrate export markets into Africa continent and Latin America, a government minister said here Wednesday.

Trade Minister Engartiasto Lukita said that while the markets in the territories are potential for the exportation of Indonesia's products, still tariff barriers remain hampering the penetration.

To overcome the obstacle, he asked for enhancement of bilateral cooperation with the nations in the territories.

"This is the starting point for us to set up cooperation with countries whose markets have not been penetrated," Lukita said.

African and Latin American countries have imposed high import taxes for products from foreign countries, according to Lukita.

President Joko Widodo has ordered to expand export to non-traditional trade countries.

Indonesia's export reached 144.43 billion U.S. dollars in 2016, according to the national statistics bureau.

Indonesia is the world's biggest exporter of crude palm oil, thermal coal, and the world's third biggest exporter of rubber and cocoa, as well as home to the world's second-biggest copper mine. Endit