CEPA negotations took place in Brussels from September 11-
15, 2017, and the negotiations included recommendations
from both Indonesian and European businesses which were
compiled at the 6th EIBD.
The 7th EIBD was started with three parallel sessions in
the morning. In these three sessions, participants discussed
topics that encompassed Services, Standards, and Custom &
Trade Facilitation. The three sessions came to a conclusion
with the the plenary session, which was held at the Grand
Ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel in the afternoon. The session
was opened by Ulf Backlund, the Chairman of EuroCham;
Yono Reksoprodjo, Deputy Head of Permanent Committee for
Europe from KADIN and APINDO; and Vincent Guérend, the
Ambassador of the European Union for Indonesia and Brunei
Darussalam. Providing a key remark in the plenary session was
the Minister of Industry, Airlangga Hartarto.
Minister Hartarto acknowledged that EIBD provides the
opportunity for business to voice their recommendations and
concerns. Furthermore, he also highlighted the huge potential
of I-EU CEPA in regards to the development of trade and
investment between the two economies.
“I hope that the 2017 EIBD can continue to produce
top recommendations for the development of the business
relations between Germany and Indonesia,” he said.
In between sessions, the 7th EIBD also introduced a
Consultative Desk, consisting of European Countries such as
Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the
Netherlands, and Spain. Also participating in this desk were
BKPM, Kadin, Apindo, and the EU-Indonesia Business Network.
The plenary session also gave participants the opportunity
of a first glimpse of a decade of EU-Indonesia Economic
Relations, a study conducted by INDEF (Institute for
Development of Economic and Finance), commissioned by
Eurocham, and co-funded by EU Delegations. Presented by
Prof. Dr. Ir. Rina Oktaviani, MS, Senior Economist at INDEF,
the study found that Indonesia and the EU are complimentary
economic partners, with plenty of room for improvements in
order to reap their full potential.
The study was followed by a discussion which addressed
the I-EU CEPA, including its potential benefits and the
various issues that the agreement could address. The panelists
during the discussion were Mr. Filip Deraedt, EU Deputy Chief
Negotiator for I-EU CEPA; Prof. Oktaviani, Mr. Reksoprodjo,
Mrs. Astri Wahyuni, Executive Board Member of EuroCham;
and Dandy Pandi, Head of Global Trade and Receivable Finance
at HSBC Indonesia, and was moderated by Mr. Endy Bayuni,
Editor-in Chief of The Jakarta Post.
The event culminated in a relaxed manner as participants,
as well as members of the European and Indonesian business
community, gathered together for dinner and networking at
the K22 Bar of the Fairmont Hotel.
EKONID ANNUAL REPORT 2017 |
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