Thursday, 4 July 2013

EU SUPPORT INDONESIA’S PARTNERSHIP IN CONSUMER SAFETY STANDARDS



To support Indonesia who is projected to become the 7th largest economic power by 2030 and is more prepared in altering existing challenges to opportunities and in enhancing its export penetration to European Union (EU) market which represent more than 18 percent of world’s trade. EU supports development in the form of partnership and strengthens capacity.
               
To assist Indonesia in realizing trade potency that meets standards of consumer health, safety, and environmental quality, EU has distributed a € 15 million aid as Trade Support Programme (TSP) II to various ministries and government institutions. The four year program was started in 2011 and was focused on strengthening of Indonesia’s Export Quality Infrastructure to improve Indonesia’s export quality and to facilitate better access to market with consumer safety standards like in UE.
               
In the launching of the EU-Indonesia Trade Support Programme in Jakarta on Tuesday (4/9), Minister of Trade, Gita Wirjawan, said “Indonesia and EU are strategic partners in trade and investment. Indonesia continuously enhances market for procurement of raw and industrial materials with added value in EU and develops its products to meet market demand through strengthening of capacity of Indonesia manufacturers.”
               
Indonesia is a dynamic country with total population of more than 250 million people and abundant natural resources, and its economy has generated 846 billion GDP in 2012 ( World Bank 2013) making Indonesia one of EU’s biggest trade partner.
               
On the other hand, European Union is world’s economic power and the most significant export destination to Indonesia, which represent nearly 13% of world’s import with total value at € 2.34 trillion in 2011 (ITC, 2012). Indonesia and EU have enjoyed economic partnership which has been growing fastly in more than 30 years. Value of EU-Indonesia trade last year reached more than USD 32 billion, and Indonesia enjoyed a trade surplus of nearly USD4 billion. Value of trade between both regions will continue to increase in the future (Central Bureau of Statistics/BPS, 2013).
               
Project that have been carried out in various ministries in TSP program series are, among other things:
-      Ensuring food safety and capability for nutmegs as an attempt to reduce aflatoxin and mycotoxin contamination in nutmegs exported to European Union;
-            Preventing and eliminating unreported and unregulated fishing through catch certification according to the requirements issued by the Directorate General of Marine and Fisheries (DG. MARE), and with this project Indonesia can maintain its position as a cooperative country;
-              Ensuring food safety of Indonesia’s agricultural products through the implementation of Residue Survey Plan. The aim of this project is to give a guarantee that water-cultured fish is safe for consumption. The residue Survey Plan is designed to meet standards of maximum limit applicable in Europe.
-      Developing Information Management System to enable exporters to get trusted information about technical standards and regulations. The aim of this system is to assist the related stakeholders to have more specific knowledge about the standards applicable in Europe and the technical regulations. (E)  



Business News - April 12,2013

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