Indonesia-European Union Partnership to Open Market Access

Jakarta, April 27 (Antara) - Head of the National Development and Planning Board Sofyan Djalil believes that the Indonesian-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is important to open up access to new markets for the national industry. "Market access is needed to gain a stronghold in the international market, without which we will find it difficult to attract investment or create an industrial society," Sofyan stated here on Wednesday. Sofyan said President Joko Widodo had urged to follow up on the CEPA since the scoping papers containing the aspirations and scope of the cooperation schemes had been discussed. The scoping papers will serve as the basis for the CEPA negotiation. Sofyan noted that the Indonesian government was ready to reinforce the CEPA negotiation to make Indonesia's economy more open and competitive. The president believes that the CEPA will strengthen the economy of Indonesia and the European countries. Sofyan said the CEPA negotiating team was currently working. "The negotiation process continues to be carried out," he added. Earlier, Indonesia had implemented the CEPA with China and Japan. The European Union is the next region after a discussion on the scoping papers had been halted for years. "The president said there is a possibility of Indonesia joining the Trans Pacific Partnership, so that our market access will be similar to that of other countries," Sofyan added.