Jakarta, 22 January 2024 – The Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), India’s largest export organization, brought a business delegation of 37 members from India to hold a ‘Buyer and Seller Meet’ meeting in Jakarta, on Tuesday, January 16 2024.
This business matching event is being held in collaboration with the Indian Embassy, at the JW Marriot hotel, Jakarta, which will be opened by Dr Basir Ahmed as Deputy Chief of Mission of the Indian Embassy, and is planned to be attended by the Director General of Agro Industry, Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Indonesia Putu July Ardika.
Also present will be Adhi S. Lukman as Chair of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (GAPMMI), as well as Head of the Center for Halal Cooperation and Standardization, Halal Product Guarantee Organizing Agency (BPJPH), including a number of Indonesian industry players.
Prashant Seth, FIEO Deputy Spokesperson, said that Indonesia is currently India’s sixth largest trading partner globally and the first largest trading partner in ASEAN with a trade value of around US$ 39 billion in the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
With India’s export profile to Indonesia, according to him, there is a big opportunity because almost 20% of India’s exports to Indonesia are in the food and agriculture category. For this reason, FIEO brings delegates to demonstrate and share capabilities in the food and agricultural sector. The delegates from all over India will bring a number of products including spices, fruit & vegetables, cereals & nuts, dairy products, peanut butter, palm sugar, ready-to-eat foods, which have the opportunity to be marketed in Indonesia.
He is optimistic that such export promotion initiatives will also help reduce India’s current trade deficit of US$ 19 billion due to substantial imports of coal, palm oil and others.
Meanwhile Dr. Basir Ahmed said that over the years, India and Indonesia have developed very close and friendly trade and economic relations based on mutual trust and respect.
He said 2024 would also be the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Indonesia. He also said that the world is experiencing food shortages due to climate change and geopolitical disruption. As friendly and historic partners because agriculture is critical to population growth, both countries can support each other’s food security goals by increasing technological cooperation for example in increasing agricultural productivity, using technology to meet logistical challenges and increasing the value of our products and also increasing access to markets that can help farmers get the best prices.
Next, regarding India’s role as a major producer of millet or grains, Basir Ahmed invited Indonesian companies to explore Indian millet products, considering their positive benefits for people’s health.
On the same occasion, Malvika Priyadarshini, Commercial Counselor at the Indian Embassy in Jakarta, said that this event would be attended by more than 100 companies, who would take part in one-on-one business meetings with their partners from India.
“We thank all parties who will attend this meeting. “This delegation’s visit will help establish lasting business relations and will deepen bilateral trade between India and Indonesia in the food and agricultural sectors,” said Malvika in Jakarta, Monday (15/1/2024).
The original article in Bahasa Indonesia can be accessed here