The total value of trade between Indonesia and Qatar in the January-July 2022 period increased by 29.02 percent compared to the same period in the previous year, while Indonesia still recorded a trade deficit of 498.25 million dollars.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan, will depart and lead a delegation of Indonesia's trade mission to Qatar in an effort to carry out President Joko Widodo's mandate to work on export markets to non-traditional countries.

The Ministry of Trade is committed to continuing to penetrate export markets to non-traditional countries and to take advantage of trade agreements with partner countries to increase national exports, Trade Minister Zulkifli said in a written statement here on Saturday.

"This working visit to Qatar is also a follow-up to President Joko Widodo's directive to increase exports by opening market access and optimizing potential and opportunities in non-traditional countries that can still be worked on," the trade minister explained.

Qatar is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), he said, adding that currently Indonesia has proposed a joint feasibility study on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Indonesia-GCC CEPA).

Director General of National Export Development Didi Sumedi pointed out that the trade performance between Indonesia and Qatar still recorded a deficit for Indonesia.

In the January-July 2022 period, the total value of Indonesia's trade with the GCC member country was recorded at 758.07 million U.S. dollars, Didi noted.

The total value of trade between the two countries in that period increased by 29.02 percent compared to the same period in the previous year, he said, disclosing that Indonesia still recorded a trade deficit of 498.25 million dollars.

Meanwhile, in 2021, the total trade between the two countries was worth 892.95 million dollars with a deficit for Indonesia of 458.61 million dollars.

Indonesia's non-oil and non-gas exports to Qatar in 2021 were recorded at 217.1 million dollars or grew by 32.17 percent.

Indonesia's main export products to the Gulf state include floating drilling platforms, automotive and spare parts, steel products, medical devices, paper and toilet paper, tableware, foods and beverages, and plywood.

Indonesia's non-oil and non-gas imports from Qatar in 2021 were recorded at 138.3 million dollars. Indonesia's main imported products from Qatar are sulphur, unwrought aluminum, ethylene polymer, acyclic alcohol, and sodium hydroxide.

"Noting the trade balance positions of the two countries, the Indonesian Trade Mission to Qatar is one of the government's efforts to reduce the trade deficit. With this trade mission, the value of Indonesia's exports to Qatar is expected to continue increasing," Didi said.

In the framework of the trade mission scheduled to take place on Oct. 9-10, 2022, Trade Minister Zulkifli is slated to attend a business forum and open an exploration of trade agreements (business matching).

As many as 11 business actors will participate in the trade mission. Indonesia's mainstay products brought in the mission include palm oil and its derivatives, paper products, automotive, batteries, foods and beverages, home decorations, handicraft products, garments, and beauty products.

Reporting by Indonesia Window