REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SURABAYA -- The European Union has agreed to increase trade and investment in Indonesia through economic cooperation to assist the country's integration into the international trade system.
"We are sure this cooperation will help Indonesia achieve the maximum potential opportunity in the trade and investment sector," European Union Ambassador to Indonesia and ASEAN Olof Skoog said here on Friday.
According to Skoog, the cooperation between Indonesia and EU so far has been based on a strong economic relationship.
He remarked that capacity building will be a major step for increasing trade and investment development.
"The EU has provided assistance for governmental organizations through Indonesia-EU Trade Assistance Program II," Skoog revealed.
The assistance has been extended to meet the standard level of Indonesian export goods on health, security, and environment as stipulated by the EU. The EU has also been participating in Indonesia's Public Financial Management.
"The program is aimed to help Indonesia reform its public financial management. The program can even enhance fiscal condition and increase its economic development," the Ambassador pointed out.
The EU has also created an Indonesia-EU Trade Cooperation Facility to assist the Indonesian government with improving its investment conditions. The facility will also solve several issues including investment problems and intellectual property rights as well as science and technology matters.
"Through this economic cooperation, the EU government and its members disbursed Euro18.178 million during 2013," Skoog observed.
Several European country ambassadors to Indonesia are attending a general course in IFI College Surabaya. They include Polish Ambassador Tadeusz Szumowski, Czech Ambassador Tomas Smetanka and Belgian Ambassador Patrick Hermann.
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