Indonesia and the European Union have completed the 15th round of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) negotiations. “The two negotiating teams have exerted their best efforts in seeking creative solutions to issues in the IEU-CEPA negotiations. After the last round in Brussels, we are optimistic that substantial progress in the negotiation will be achieved,” stated Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, the Trade Ministry's Director General of International Trade Negotiation. Meanwhile, the ministry’s Director of Bilateral Negotiations, Johni Martha, who is Indonesia’s Chief Negotiator for the IEU-CEPA, stated that the two parties continue to accelerate the progress in negotiations to adhere to instructions from President Joko Widodo and the EU leadership. “Apart from completing the economic cooperation section, other working groups have also engaged in constructive discussion this week,” Martha remarked. He noted that the 16th round of negotiations is expected to take place by 2023's end in Brussels, Belgium, and encouraged close communication and inter-session meetings by all working groups, if needed. In 2022, the total trade value between Indonesia and the EU had reached EUR 30.3 billion. While Indonesia's exports to the EU reached EUR 19.6 billion, Indonesian imports from the EU were valued at EUR 10.6 billion. Some of Indonesia's main export commodities to the EU in 2022 are palm oil and its derivatives, coal, and leather footwear. Meanwhile, Indonesia's main imports from the EU were steel and iron pipes, medicine and vaccines, and recycled paper or cardboard, among others.Link di fonte: https://en.antaranews.com/news/288525/indonesia-eu-conclude-15th-round-of-ieu-cepa-negotiations (ICE GIACARTA)

Fonte notizia: Antaranews - 17 July 2023