EU-Indonesia CEPA Roadshow – East Kalimantan Discuss Trade and Investment Potential

INDUSTRY.co.id - The European Union Delegation to Indonesia, in collaboration with the Provincial Government of East Kalimantan, held a business meeting today (26/10).

The visit aims to increase understanding of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (IEU-CEPA) currently being negotiated, as well as to discuss trade and investment opportunities with stakeholders in the province.

East Kalimantan is one of the largest provinces in Indonesia with wide investment opportunities in sectors such as oil and gas, manufacturing, construction and agriculture and fisheries. It could attract greater foreign investment in the future due to the government's plan to move the nation's capital to the province.

European Union Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam Vincent Piket said, “The European Union supports the efforts of the East Kalimantan Provincial Government to increase trade and investment. Current foreign investment in the province is relatively small, so it offers a lot of room for growth. The EU-Indonesia CEPA will help increase trade and investment and contribute to job creation and sustainable economic recovery."

“For more than 30 years, the European Union has partnered with Indonesia to enhance trade and investment cooperation. In 2019, the European Union launched the five-year ARISE+ Indonesia Trade Support Facility program worth €15 million. This program provides technical support to the Indonesian government and companies to increase export capacity and to comply with international trade rules and standards,” said EU Ambassador Piket.

The arrival of the European Union Delegation was welcomed by the Governor of East Kalimantan, Isran Noor at the Heart of Borneo Theater.

“Relations between Indonesia and the European Union have always been very close and mutually constructive. Investment opportunities are wide open for the European Union. several potential projects that can be funded by foreign investors include: the Malay Batuta Trans Kalimantan Special Economic Zone (KIK) Project in East Kutai Regency; Kariangau Industrial Park; Balikpapan City Waste Management; and the Balikpapan – North Penajam Paser Toll Bridge Project,” said Governor Isran.

In addition, East Kalimantan also has various advantages such as mining and quarrying, oil and gas, processing industry, construction, and agriculture and mining fishery. Meanwhile, Penajam Paser Utama Regency will be a candidate for the State Capital,” explained Governor Isran.

The governor hopes that this meeting will encourage European investors to invest in East Kalimantan.

“Besides investing, we also want to expand opportunities to export to Europe. Therefore, we hope that business actors can open their horizons on how to increase the potential of trade exports," he added.

The meeting also featured a panel discussion discussing the benefits of the CEPA in improving economic relations between EU member states and Indonesia.

The panelists included Marika Jakas, Head of Trade and Economics of the European Union Delegation to Indonesia; Ni Made Ayu Marthini, Director of Bilateral/Negotiations, Ministry of Trade; Wahyuni ​​Bahar, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Multilateral Institutions and Free Trade Agreements at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) and Gustaaf Reerink of EuroCham.

Then the second session discussed how the CEPA will improve investment and trade partnerships presenting Thierry Beranger, European Commission Investment Negotiator; Puguh Harjanto, S.STP, M.Si, Head of the Investment Service and One Stop Services (DPMPTSP), representatives from EuroCham and Dayang Dona Farouk, Chair of the East Kalimantan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

On this occasion, the European Union Delegation will also review the candidate for the State Capital, namely North Penajam Paser Regency (PPU) and meet with the Regent Abdul Gapur Mas, ud SE, ME to discuss potential cooperation.

Prior to the meeting to East Kalimantan, the European Union held a CEPA business visit with the provincial governments of Maluku, Central Java, West Java and South Sumatra.