GERMANY EXPLORING FTA WITH INDONESIA

Jakarta, March 10 (ANTARA) - Germany is exploring the possibility of concluding a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on certain products with Indonesia, a visiting German minister said.

"We have agreed to cooperate in the creation of a free trade zone between Germany and Indonesia," Minister of Economics of the German State of Baden-Wurttemberg, Ernest Pfister, said here on Tuesday.
The German minister said that in order to open an FTA zone between Indonesia and Germany, Indonesia must first reach an FTA with the European Union.
Pfister said that with an FTA, European products would enter Indonesia easily.
"But once again, I still have to discuss this matter with our government in order to follow up this idea," Pfister said.
In the meantime, Industry Minister Fahmi Idris said on the occasion that Indonesia was very much open to the FTA issue because each country had its own particularities.
"With regard to the Indonesian interest, we are very open to FTA, including an FTA between Indonesia and Germany," Minister Idris said.
But Indonesia-Germany cooperation could not yet be realized as there was no Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Indonesia and the European Union.
"I proposed to them that they should consult with the German foreign minister and the chairman of the European Union in order to follow up the talks between Indonesia and Germany," the minister said.
After all, Germany has many particularities that Indonesia could take advantage of, he said.
Germany, especially the state of Baden-Worttemberg, has expressed interest in cooperating with Indonesia on several issues. Idris said that the German state had several particularities mainly in the automotive industry.
Germany also was interested to invest in several sectors such as geothermal, pharmacy, automotive, medical equipment and others, the minister said.
"I have suggested that they come in and seek partners so that they could establish a joint venture," Minister Fahmi said.