MINISTER ASKS OVERSEAS TRADE REPRESENTATIVES TO PROMOTE RI PRODUCTS

Beijing, Dec 6 (ANTARA) - Visiting Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said Indonesia's trade representatives overseas should be able to promote and find buyers for the country's export products in the international markets in relation with the global economic crisis.
"The role and function of Indonesia's trade representative offices abroad is getting more important as they should be able to promote and market Indonesian export commodities," Pangestu said here on Saturday.
She made the statement at a coordination meeting on international trade cooperation with Indonesian representative offices abroad organized by her ministry in Beijing on Saturday.
Present on the occasion were Indonesian ambassador to China Sudrajat, a number of Indonesian Trade Ministry officials, and the heads of 50 Indonesian trade representative offices in Asia , Africa, and the Middle East.
Pangestu said the chief of Indonesian trade representative offices abroad should be able to spearhead the success of the country's export commodity's promotion and market.
"The new markets such as Russia and the Middle East can be the targets of Indonesia's export commodities because many countries in Europe, including the United States are currently hit by financial crisis," Pangestu said.
She added that the chief of trade representative offices abroad were expected to cooperate with foreign buyers and make them trade partners with Indonesia.