Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Indonesia is increasing its investment and trade cooperation with Canada, especially with the province of British Columbia or BC.

“Investment and trade cooperation is still largely open. Although positive developments have been observed over the past five years, it needs to be further intensified. commercial engagement both sides,” Indonesian Consul General Tuti Irman said in a written statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on Sunday.

This statement was made on Trade and Business Networking 2018: Opportunities with Indonesia at the Marriot Pinnacle Downtown Hotel, Vancouver, BC, Canada (11/27).

The Indonesian Consul General further highlighted that one of the efforts to encourage this cooperation is to organize regular strategic meetings between the Indonesian Consulate General in Vancouver and the Ministry of Manpower, Trade and Technology of British Columbia.

The Indonesian Consul General also emphasized that commercial engagement can be achieved by establishing the Canada-Indonesia Chamber of Commerce (CICC) chapters Western coast. Therefore, additional measures are needed to encourage the formation of CICC.

Separately, British Columbia Minister of Manpower, Trade and Technology Bruce Ralston also said that opportunities for cooperation between the two sides had not been maximized.

“Indonesia is a potential trading partner for the province of British Columbia. As trade and investment between Indonesia and Canada strengthens, especially with the province of British Columbia, the close relations between the two parties in the socio-cultural sector will also be realized,” said Minister Ralston .

This activity took place in collaboration between the Consulate General of Indonesia in Vancouver, the ITPC Vancouver BRI New York agency and the Canadian Indonesian Diaspora Society (CIDS).

The event featured several key speakers, namely the Director of Bilateral Foreign Financing in Bappenas, the Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) New York, Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada; and Hatfield Consultants.

This activity brought together approximately 90 guests comprised of business people, trade associations, academics and local government representatives, as well as the Indonesian diaspora in the province of British Columbia.

At this event, PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk together with Orakay Advocate Canada and PT Akuntasi Management Asset Solusi Indonesia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on student loan facilities.

It is hoped that with this MoU, there will be increased educational cooperation between Indonesia and Canada, especially with the province of British Columbia.

Apart from this, with the MoU, it is also hoped that there will be increased interest among Indonesian students to continue their studies at a higher level in the BC region.

An exhibition of Indonesian products made by entrepreneurs from the Indonesian diaspora also enhanced the activity with various products including furniture and home decorationpackaged food products (instant noodles), tempeh, coffee, healthy drinks and beauty care products.

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Also read: Indonesian coffee exhibited in America and Canada