EU Should Be Fair In Trade With Indonesia

Jakarta, Nov 19 (Antara) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla has expressed hope that the European Union (EU) will be fair in conducting trade with Indonesia and will no longer impose trade barriers on some of its products. "One of the commodities facing export problems in Europe is crude palm oil. I want Europe to act fairly in this case," the vice president stated while opening the new round of Indonesia-Europe business relations here on Wednesday. Present during the occasion were Trade Minister Rahmad Gobel, Transportation Minister Ignatius Jonan, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Chairman Suryo Solisto, and Europe-Indonesia Chamber of Commerce, and Industry Chairman Jakob Friss Sorensen. The vice president remarked that as global trade is more open and interdependent, hence any unjust actions should be thwarted. Kalla emphasized that the world economy was interdependent, and if the European economy grew, then the Asian economy will also grow and vice versa. "Fair economic action should be supported," the vice president explained. The vice president noted that Indonesia has maintained sound economic cooperation with China, Japan, and Europe and coupled with the favorable economic conditions in Indonesia, several European companies in the country will also grow. "I see Siemens and Unilever grow well in Indonesia because our country has a large consumer population," Kalla stated.