REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, Indonesia and Ecuador held the first forum of the Working Group on Trade and Investment in Quito recently since they signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to that effect five years ago. The Indonesian delegation to the meeting was led by Director of Bilateral Negotiations at the Trade Ministry Ni Made Ayu Marthini.

Meanwhile, the Ecuadorian delegation was led by Director for Asian, African, and Oceania Region of the Production, Trade, and Investment Ministry Maria Fernanda Cruz. At the meeting, the two delegations discussed a wide range of issues in the trade and investment fields, including market access, trade facilities, customs procedures, and priority investment sectors in the two countries.

The meeting also discussed tariff and non-tariff barriers in their bilateral trade. The Indonesian delegation raised the country's importers' and exporters' complaints regarding the higher tariffs imposed by Ecuador so far.

Indonesia suggested that the two countries analyze the possibility of signing a trade cooperation agreement in future. Both countries have agreed to further study the possibility of the trade cooperation agreement, the Indonesian Embassy in Quito noted in a statement sent to London-based Antara correspondent on Thursday.

Marthini said the meeting was a historical event for the bilateral relations between the two countries, as it was held for the first time since they established diplomatic relations in 1980.

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