RI, AFGHANISTAN EXPLORE MUTUAL ECONOMIC POTENTIALS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 6 (Antara) - Indonesia and Afghanistan are countries rich in economic potentials but their bilateral trade value is still small, with value declining last year compared to the previous year.          The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) noted that the value of bilateral trade between Indonesia and Afghanistan had declined from US$36.6 million in 2015 to $16.25 million in 2016. Although the trade surplus was in favor of Indonesia, the trade value was still considered low.          Hence, this week's two-day (April 5 and 6) visit by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani to Indonesia is the best opportunity for both nations to explore mutual potentials and to further increase bilateral economic cooperation.         According to Indonesian Ambassador to Afghanistan Arief Rahman, as a trade destination country, Afghanistan offers opportunities in various fields. Its natural resources such as large iron ore deposits, copper reserves, and precious stones are potentials for Indonesian investment.         "Besides that, there are still many others, such as transmission lines, which are still open wide for investment," Rahman remarked on Thursday.         Moreover, Afghanistan is a hub country in Central Asia, which connects Eastern and Southern Asian countries.