The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) announced that negotiations to enhance the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) have made significant progress during the 38th ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) Council Meeting held in Vientiane, Laos. The meeting, which took place on Monday (16/9), saw the ATIGA Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) successfully conclude several chapters in the agreement. The Director General of International Trade Negotiations at Kemendag, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, emphasized Indonesia's support for accelerating the finalization of ATIGA. "We hope to see the agreement signed by 2025," he stated in Jakarta on Wednesday. He also highlighted Indonesia’s active participation in addressing key negotiation issues to foster stronger intra-regional cooperation and collaboration between ASEAN and its dialogue partners.
Djatmiko praised the full implementation of electronic Certificates of Origin (Form D) by all ASEAN member countries, noting the importance of this development in boosting regional cooperation. Indonesia is committed to facilitating the implementation of ATIGA, resolving Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs), and promoting ASEAN Single Window collaboration with ASEAN Dialogue Partners. The 38th AFTA Council Meeting is part of the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting series, which took place from 15-22 September 2024 in Vientiane, Laos. Following the meeting, Djatmiko witnessed the handover ceremony for the Fifth Protocol Amendment to the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA). The protocol aims to strengthen ASEAN’s investment climate, making the region more attractive to investors. Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan will represent Indonesia in signing the protocol in Jakarta soon.
