Indonesia's export potential to Eastern and Central European countries is US$ 7.2 billion and only US$ 3.1 billion has been realized. The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) together with relevant ministries and agencies, continues to strive to increase the value of economic cooperation in the Central and Eastern European regions, especially exports. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to make various breakthroughs, one of which is the initiative to implement the Indonesia-Central and Eastern Europe Business Forum (INACEE Business Forum) tomorrow, Thursday (7/10).
Director of Europe I at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) Sade Bimantara said the purpose of this business forum was to increase the trade value of Indonesian products. Also to expand market access to non-traditional markets and the introduction of market potential, as well as increase investment and tourists from Central and Eastern Europe. "Indonesia and the Central and Eastern European regions have enormous potential for cooperation, and we hope that one of these efforts can be a driving force and continue to build momentum to increase Indonesia's mutually beneficial cooperation with the Central and Eastern Europe region," Sade said in a statement. a webinar, Wednesday (6/10).

Indonesian business forum activities in Central and Eastern Europe will be held in a hybrid manner. This forum will also build business interactions to bridge Central and Eastern European businesses as well as a place to promote Indonesia at the Trade Expo Indonesia. Meanwhile, Director of Market Development and Export Information of the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) Hari Widodo said that exports of Indonesian products to Central Europe in the period January - July 2021 reached US$ 2.6 billion. This figure experienced a significant increase of 23.6% from the same period the previous year which was recorded at US$ 2.04 billion. Meanwhile, the value of exports to Eastern Europe in the January – July 2021 period also increased by 58.1%. From the previous US$ 910 million to US$ 1.44 billion. "The five highest export commodities to Central and Eastern Europe are palm oil, rubber, copper ore, fiber and steel," said Hari. He explained that the five export destination countries with positive growth in July 2021 compared to the same month in the previous year were Georgia with 369.02% growth, Armenia grew 139.9%, Ukraine grew 71.88%, Russia 66.73%, Poland. 56.64%. Meanwhile, five export destination countries with negative growth in the same period were Bulgaria with -76.65%, Belarus -70.69%, Moldova -54.97%, Bosnia -22.33%, and Croatia -15.43%.

"Indonesia's opportunity to export products to Eastern and Central European countries is partly due to a fairly large population, namely 177 people in the region with a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$ 4.08 trillion and an average growth of 3.85%. " he said. He said that Indonesia's export potential to Eastern and Central European countries amounted to US$ 7.2 billion and only US$ 3.1 billion was realized. The challenges that may be faced are the closed trading system, which still applies high tariffs. In addition, the process of distributing goods is still carried out by business actors or certain parties who have power. "Thus, this will create barriers to market access and one of the strategies we need to do is to enter into trade agreements with countries in Central and Eastern Europe," he said.
 
Sources: https://katadata.co.id/maesaroh/berita/615d7ef622794/eropa-timur-dan-tengah-dibidik-jadi-pasar-besar-untuk-komoditas-ri