KONTAN.CO.ID - Indonesia will send 23 officials from the Trade Ministry to China to study the market in the country as part of a two-week workshop on trade promotion as officials try to reduce Indonesia's trade deficit with the country.

The workshop’s program has been tailored specifically to boost Indonesian exports to China, said the Trade Ministry’s secretary general for export development, Ari Satria, adding that the event would take place from Nov. 3 to 17.

In addition to attending classes, the officials would also go on site visits to facilities relevant to the goal of the workshop, he added.

Data from the Trade Ministry shows that Indonesia posted a trade deficit of US$ 8.4 billion with China during the period from January to August this year, slightly better than $ 9.9 billion deficit recorded in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Charge d'Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia Sun Weide said the governments of both countries had been communicating to help increase exports from Indonesia to China.

“Both governments [of Indonesia and China] have been in close communication on how to increase Indonesian exports to China,” said Sun, adding that Indonesian companies could export more tropical fruits to China as there was a great market for such commodities in his country.

Ari added that the Trade Ministry and the Foreign Ministry had considered opening trade promotion centers in Shanghai to boost exports to the country. (bbn)

Editor: Sanny Cicilia