Paris Terrorist Attacks Not to Disturb Trade between Indonesia & France
The terrorist attacks in Paris last week are not expected to jeopardize Indonesia's trade with France or the European Union. France is expected to tighten the flow of people, but not the flow of goods after the terrorist attacks on Friday (13/11) that led to the deaths of at least 129 people as well as hundreds of injured people. In 2014 trade between Indonesia and France totaled USD $2.35 billion, down 11 percent from the preceding year. Indonesian exports to France stood at USD $1.02 billion (exports only involved non-oil & gas products), while Indonesia's imports from France stood at USD $1.33 billion in 2014.
Nus Nuzulia, Director General of National Export Development at Indonesia's Ministry of Trade, said not to expect any severe negative impact on Indonesia's exports to France as the flow of goods is not expected to be curbed, while demand from France for Indonesian parquet flooring, coffee, furniture, rubber and textiles remains high. Nuzulia added Indonesian shipments enter France in Le Havre and Marseille, located far away from Paris where the terrorist attacks took place.
France is also a relatively large buyer of Indonesian crude palm oil (CPO) within the Eurozone. French demand for CPO is also not expected to reduce after the attacks as the oil is required for the production of a whole range of products (from food products to cosmetics), while the main CPO producing (and exporting) countries are Indonesia and Malaysia.
Trade between Indonesia and France (in USD billion):
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
| Total Trade | 2.46 | 3.29 | 3.05 | 2.65 | 2.35 |
| Export | 1.12 | 1.28 | 1.13 | 1.06 | 1.02 |
| Import | 1.34 | 2.00 | 1.92 | 1.59 | 1.33 |
| Trade Balance | -0.22 | -0.72 | -0.80 | -0.53 | -0.31 |
Source: Indonesian Ministry of Trade
Indonesia still has a trade deficit with France as Indonesia imports many aircraft and ships from France.
The Indonesian Trade Ministry developed an online service to provide information and guidance to Indonesian exporters regarding exports to the European Union. The INATRIMS portal (Indonesia Technical Requirements Information System) provides the requirements, standards and regulations for shipments abroad.