Trade in services and green economy are two areas of cooperation among potential new sectors that Indonesia and Singapore will explore further.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia’s Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan and Singapore's Minister of Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong have agreed to explore the potential for cooperation in new sectors.

The agreement was reached at a bilateral meeting between Indonesia and Singapore on Wednesday (Sept. 21), the Indonesian Ministry of Trade said in a written statement received here on Thursday.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Trade, Investment and Industry Working Group (TIIWG) meeting and the Trade, Investment, and Industry Ministerial Meeting (TIIMM) on Sept. 19-23, 2022, in Nusa Dua resort area in Badung district, Bali province.

“Our trade with Singapore is close and without problems. Singapore is Indonesia's strategic partner. For this reason, Minister Gan Kim Yong and I have agreed to explore the potential for cooperation in new sectors," Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan explained.

Zulkifli said that he and his Singaporean counterpart saw that the sectors which could be explored further are trade in services and green economy.

On the occasion, Minister Gan Kim Yong also appreciated Indonesia's success in exporting fresh chicken to Singapore.

"I appreciate Indonesia's fresh chicken exports to Singapore which support Singapore's food security," Minister Gan Kim Yong said.

When discussing cooperation in ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Zulkifli asked for Singapore's support regarding the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) secretariat.

"I look forward to Singapore's support for the establishment of the RCEP Secretariat in Jakarta as a support unit under the ASEAN Secretariat," he added.

In response to this, Minister Gan Kim Yong expressed his support and readiness to support Indonesia's role as Chair of ASEAN in 2023.

During the meeting, Minister Zulkifli also conveyed his invitation to Singaporean businessmen and entrepreneurs to participate in the 37th Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) on Oct.19–23, 2022, at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) in Tangerang district, Banten province (offline), and on Oct. 19–Dec. 19, 2022 (online).

"I invite Singaporean businesspersons and entrepreneurs to participate in the 37th TEI because TEI is the right place for business actors to develop trade relations between the two countries," the trade minister said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window