In recent years we have repeatedly heard Indonesian government officials (as well as analysts) emphasize on the importance of tapping the potential of non-traditional export markets in an effort to improve Indonesia’s export performance (and trade balance).

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Negotiations related to the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) have entered the final phase. Iman Pambagyo, the Trade Ministry's International Trade Negotiations Director General, said both sides are currently finalizing the agreement. He added that around 85 percent of the agreement has been completed now and the deal is expected to be fully completed before the end of 2018.

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Indonesian exports of textile and textile products could soar threefold if the government of Indonesia finally manages to sign a free trade deal with the European Union (EU). Achmad Sigit Dwiwahjono, Director General for Chemicals, Textiles and Miscellaneous industry at the Industry Ministry, said a major obstacle for Indonesian textile exports at the moment is the weak competitiveness of Indonesian textile companies as compared to their Vietnamese counterparts.

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Indonesian entrepreneurs urge the central government to sign more bilateral free trade agreements because Indonesia's export products currently miss out on competitiveness as regional counterparts - such as those in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam - can enjoy little or zero import duties under such agreements with specific trading partners, while the Indonesian government remains hesitant to be engaged in these deals.

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Chile and Indonesia are on track to sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) before the end of 2017. Both nations concluded the fourth round of negotiations on 23 August 2017 in Jakarta, while the final round is scheduled for October in Chile. Iman Pambagyo, Chief of the Indonesian negotiating team, said that in the first stage of the partnership a number of specific goods are prioritized to be free from import tariffs.

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