Close relations between Malaysia and Indonesia should be fostered to generate shared prosperity for both countries, according to Indonesia's Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan.
Zulkifli, who is in Malaysia as part of Indonesia's President Joko Widodo's official delegation, said his ministry is ready with support for Indonesian small enterprises that have the potential to market their products here.
"Malaysia and Indonesia are like two sides of the same coin. We share the same roots.
"Therefore the friendship between both nations can also generate shared prosperity," said Zulkifli (above, third from left) who earlier today launched 'DoMart' - a new convenience store located in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, specialising in selling products from Indonesia.
"With the growth of our economies and trade, both countries will then be more prosperous," he said.
At the same time, Zulkifli noted that Jokowi and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim are expected to discuss matters affecting not only bilateral trade but also the countries' cooperation to go up against the European Union's (EU) ban against the import of products that come from land cleared of forests.
"I feel the (import) ban is grossly unjust as the deforestation law has also banned coffee, pepper, rubber, and others," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof, together with a Malaysian delegation and counterparts from Indonesia, had last month reportedly met with leaders of the EU Commission and Parliament to negotiate the terms of the upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation.
Currently, Indonesia and Malaysia account for about 85 percent of global palm oil exports and the EU is their third-largest market.
Zulkifli said Malaysia currently ranked as among Indonesia's top trading partners in Asean countries with reported bilateral trade amounting to over US$27 billion (about RM124 billion) for the period between January and November last year.
International Trade and Industries Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz in January said the trade figure represented an increase of over 30 percent from the previous year.
Zulkifli credited the role of Indonesian small businesses that grew to become exporters of their products here.
Among others, Domart founder Dimyani, who goes by a single name, said the new convenience store will stock up to 60 percent of products from Indonesia's small and medium enterprises, other than notable brands here such as the Indomie range of instant noodles.
He said the store will also bring Indonesia's street culture here with a 'Starling' corner that features various local instant coffee brands commonly sold by sellers on motorcycles dubbed as "Starbucks keliling" (travelling Starbucks).
Jokowi and wife Iriana Widodo are scheduled to arrive in Malaysia today for a two-day official visit organised in response to Anwar's maiden Jakarta visit in January.
The two leaders had also met in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, for the Asean Summit 2023 last month. - Mkini
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