Indonesia encourages direct trade with Cuba

The Indonesian government will encourage direct trade contact with Cuba to increase the value of the two countries bilateral trade, Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister A.M. Fachir has said.

“Indonesia will encourage direct trade contact with Cuba in order to increase the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries and appreciate the significant economic development in Cuba,” Fachir said here over the weekend.

The deputy foreign minister made the remarks in connection with his meeting earlier with Cuban Director General for Bilateral Relations Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of Cuba, Ambassador Gerardo Penalver Portal.

During the meeting, Fachir discussed various issues of mutual concerns, both, at bilateral and multilateral forums.

“On the bilateral basis, the political relations of the two countries had been closely established. Yet this closeness should be translated into a concrete form of cooperation, among others in the fields of trade, health and agriculture,” he said.

In the multilateral context, Indonesia and Cuba shared similarities in views and cooperation regarding various international issues, the deputy foreign minister said.

“In the bilateral aspect, Cuba pays attention to direct trade contact to increase trade relations by among others planning a Cuban trade mission to Indonesia and that of Indonesia to Cuba,” Fachir said.

Meanwhile, Gerardo Penalver Portal expressed appreciation for the establishment of good cooperation between the two countries at various international forums.

Cuba appreciates Indonesias big contributions to the Non-Aligned Movement so that the movement remains relevant to the present conditions, he said.