INDONESIA SETS SIGHTS ON CHINA'S INVESTORS, MARKETS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 13 (Antara) - Indonesia perceives China as having huge economic potential that could offer a marketplace for exports and a source of business to attract investors.         Hence, Indonesia always takes part in business events, such as international trade fair and investment, where it can promote its products and investment potentials.         The China-ASEAN EXPO (CAEXPO), held on September 12-15, 2018, and the recently concluded China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT) are two business events that Indonesia will not let go without participation.         This is since Indonesia is doing its best to attract investors from CIFIT held in Xiamen, China, on September 8-11, 2018, and to promote its products through the 15th CAEXPO 2018.         According to Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun, CIFIT is an event that holds potential during which Indonesia can attract investors.         "Last year, some 120 thousand people had visited the fair, with about five thousand firms showcasing their products. This year, the fair is forecast to be attended by more visitors and companies, so it is very strategic for us to attract investors," Djauhari Oratmangun noted in Beijing on Tuesday (Sept 11).

INDONESIA, CHINA MUST WORK HARD TO BALANCE BILATERAL TRADE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 24 (Antara)- Indonesia is intensifying the promotion of its export products through various activities, including organizing exhibitions and attending business forums in China, in an effort to balance its trade deficit, which reaches US$14 billion.          "The trade deficit, which is in favor of China, is caused by the fall in the prices of commodities that we are exporting to that country. Now, the two nations must work hard to balance bilateral trade and to step up economic cooperation," Trade Minister Thomas Lembong stated on the sidelines of his activities while attending the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) in Hainan, China, on Thursday.          Tourism and investment promotions are some steps that can be taken to maintain the trade balance and enhance cooperation between the two countries, Minister Lembong explained.          "If our funds, amounting to US$14 billion, flow to China, but they return in the form of investment, our relations and economic cooperation will become balanced. It will also be the same if many Chinese tourists come to Indonesia. Income from the tourism sector will be able to balance the economic deficit between the two nations," the trade minister emphasized.          Data at the Chinese Immigration authority indicated that China's imports from Indonesia in 2015 stood at US$19.8 billion, while its exports to the latter were recorded at US$34.4 billion.

CHINA SUPPORTS RI'S LIQUIDITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 23 (Antara) - Liquidity assistance worth US$20 billion provided by China, through a bilateral currency swap scheme, will strengthen Indonesia's liquidity amid the current global economic turmoil, according to Bank Indonesia (BI), the Indonesian central bank.         "This is part of the second line of defense. If there is pressure, it would provide liquidity support," BI Governor Agus Martowardojo stated on Friday.         Therefore, the BI governor hailed the bilateral currency swap arrangement, which increased from the previous scheme valued at US$15 billion.     He said the liquidity support assistance indicated increasing investor confidence in Indonesia's economy, which has been increasingly improved in line with the development of the domestic economy.         "The confidence is reflected in the decrease in the rupiah's depreciation from 19 percent year-to-date (ytd) last August to 10 percent ytd now. This displays the increase in confidence," noted Agus.         Recently, the governments of Indonesia and China held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey, last week (Nov. 15).

RI PROMOTES EXPORTS TO CHINA TO BALANCE TRADE DEFICIT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 19 (Antara) - Indonesia is intensifying its efforts to promote its exports to China in an effort to balance its trade deficit with Beijing, which last year reached US$13 billion.         The efforts include promoting products to Chinese provinces, inviting Chinese businesspeople to its trade expo and establishing production design centers to improve its export products.         "We have to think of what products we have to export to equalize our trade balance," Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas T Lembong said after inaugurating the Indonesian Pavilion at the Twelfth China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO)  in Nanning, China on Friday.          He noted that Indonesia¿s export products to China should have added values and a high competitive edge so that Indonesia would be able to balance its export volumes with its imports from China.          Indonesia will establish a Jakarta Regional Design Center (JRDC) early next month in order to improve the quality of its products and increase its competitive edge in the export market, particularly in China.

INDONESIA WANTS CONCRETE PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 9 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo who arrived in Beijing on Saturday for an APEC summit held talks on Sunday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Keqiang and observed China's integrated Tianjin seaport and power plant.          During the meeting with President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Joko Widodo who is popularly called Jokowi, said Indonesia expected relations with China to be mutually beneficial.          Indonesia also wants its comprehensive strategic partnership with China to be more concrete and implemented for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries.         "Indonesia and China already have relations for hundreds of years. This is an asset for the two countries to build a comprehensive strategic partnership. Ahead, I want this comprehensive strategic partnership to become more concrete," Joko Widodo said when he had talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Sunday.