Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan held a bilateral meeting with the Italian Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor Leste, and ASEAN, Benedetto Latteri, on Wednesday, 22 May, in Jakarta. During the meeting, Ambassador Latteri offered opportunities for Indonesian exports to Europe through the Ports of Genoa and Trieste. "We are exploring export opportunities to the European Union via the Ports of Genoa and Trieste in Italy, as offered by Ambassador Latteri. The advantage for Indonesia exporting through these ports is their position as gateways to Central and Eastern Europe," said Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan. Minister Zulkifli Hasan noted that Indonesia's trade volume with Europe is still one-third of Vietnam's trade with Europe. Utilizing these export routes is expected to increase Indonesia's trade volume with the European Union, and with Italy in particular. Additionally, Ambassador Latteri conveyed that the Italian government, together with the private sector, is offering technical solutions for Indonesia's leading export products, such as CPO and coffee, which are affected by the EU's deforestation policy. One innovation proposed is a certification scheme to ensure compliance with these policy requirements.
To further discuss Italy's offer in detail, Ambassador Latteri invited representatives from the Indonesian Ministry of Trade to Italy to meet with the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as well as the Port Authorities of Genoa and Trieste. These meetings aim to open discussions on the technical aspects that need to be addressed. During the occasion, Minister Zulkifli Hasan also sought support from the Italian government for the completion of the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) negotiations. He stated that both Indonesia and Italy share the desire to conclude the negotiations as soon as possible. "Indonesia has the same ambition to finalize the IEU-CEPA negotiations in 2024, as instructed by President Joko Widodo and President Ursula von der Leyen. Indonesia welcomes the positive results achieved in the 18th round and the efforts to conclude the CEPA negotiations," said Minister Zulkifli Hasan. At this crucial stage, both parties are expected to take a pragmatic approach and show flexibility on certain issues to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
