ANTARA News-May 23
Indonesia will open its market for a variety of Palestinian products, with zero import duty, after both nations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the trade of dates and olive oil, a minister stated.
The trade cooperation with Palestine reflects the Indonesian government`s support that is not merely related to the aspect of international politics, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita noted in a press conference here on Tuesday.
“We provide as wide market access as possible to Palestinian products. Moreover, they also need several Indonesian products,” he remarked.
Indonesia has agreed to import two Palestinian commodities — dates and olive oil — without imposing an import duty. The two products were proposed as the start of the trade cooperation. Indonesia expects trade ties with Palestine to be upgraded to the Preferential Trade Agreement in future.
“However, we must always be on guard. We do not want `illegal items` to penetrate the Indonesian market on pretext of being Palestinian products,” she noted.
The two countries are expected to meet in Yogyakarta in mid-June of 2018 to formulate a list of Indonesian products required by Palestine and a list of Palestinian products needed by Indonesia.
On the occasion, Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Zuhair Al-Shun expressed hope that the Indonesian market would accept Palestinian products. He noted that the Palestinian national economic minister had
“We are grateful to the government and people of Indonesia that continue to support Palestine. We highly laud it (the support),” he added.
Indonesia and Palestine have signed an MoU on the trade of goods, which will exempt Palestinian dates and olive oil from import duties to enter the Indonesian market as of 2018. Indonesia currently imposes a five percent duty on the import of Palestinian dates and olive oil.
TAGS: ASEAN, Indonesia, Import-Export, ASEAN Beyond, Palestine
