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GEMA INDONESIA EDISI KE-2/2020

Enhancing

Commercial

Diplomacy

in Italy

020 will be remembered
deeply for Italians, as Italy
2has become one of the coun-
tries that is most impacted by the
COVID-19 pandemic. The pan-
demic will not only bring health
impact, but more importantly
economic and social scar unseen
since the end of World War II.
As Italy has reopens after three
months of complete lockdown,
the Indonesian Embassy intensi-
fies efforts in its economic diplo-
macy.

Italy is commonly regarded as
a traditional trading partner of
Indonesia, despite itslack of geo-
graphical proximity and neither
historical attachment to Indone-
sia. Italy ranks 18th as Indone-
sia’s export destination in 2019.
If compared with other countries
in the Eurozone, Italy ranks at
the 3rdhplace after the Nether-
land and Germany as Indonesia’s In trade sector, Italy imports a lot of
export destination. Indonesian agricultural commodi-
ty products, namely palm oil, cof-
According to the Foreign Under- fee, rubber, nutmeg; tropical fruit;
secretary Manlio Di Stefano, Indo- mollusc marine products (shells,
nesia offers several interesting areas oysters, squid) and some industrial
of opportunity for collaboration at products, namely footwear, chem-
regional and bilateral level for Italy ical industry products, synthetic
with the solid foundation based on fibers and motor vehicle tires.
trade worth US$3.1 billion dollars
in 2019 and a stable friendship be- In order to improve economic
tween the two peoples. relations and realize new busi-
ness opportunities for Indonesian
With the aim to further increas- products, Indonesia optimizes the
ing the value benefits of econom- utilization of market opportunities
ic diplomacy in the accredited through strengthening promotions
countries, the Indonesian embassy and approaches to economic stake-
focuses its work to : (1) promot- holders and business relations.
ing exports (especially Indonesian (24-25 January 2020). During
non-oil and energy exports); (2) For the period of January – June this visit, Minister AgusSupar-
supporting overseas business ex- 2020, Indonesian embassy’s efforts, manto held a meeting with
pansion of Indonesian companies include, but not limited to: the the CEO of Ilta Inox S.p.a
along with inward investment to Mario Vergna, discussing the
Indonesia; and (3) tourism market- 1. Supporting the visit of the opportunities to increase steel
ing diversification. Minister of Trade of the Re- imports from Indonesiaand
public of Indonesia to Milan other related products that

30 ECONOMY, TRADE, AGRICULTURE AND MULTILATERAL