Indonesia’s ambassador to Tunisia, Zuhairi Misrawi, said the Indonesia-Tunisia Preferential Trade Agreement (IT-PTA), if ratified, could potentially increase the value of bilateral trade between the two countries to US$1 billion.
“The preferential trade agreement covers a tariff exemption on 250 items, and after that I can imagine that our export agreement could be worth US$500 million to US$1 billion,” he said on Tuesday.
If that target is met, Indonesia will become one of the biggest exporters to the country at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, the trade value between Indonesia and Tunisia in 2023 was US$217.6 million, up 1.09% compared to the previous year (US$215.3 million).
Ambassador Misrawi said that the free trade agreement between Indonesia and Tunisia was being finalized.
Indonesia and Tunisia are ready to sign the agreement, which would remove a major obstacle to the two countries’ bilateral trade relations.
The agreement was originally scheduled to be signed at the second Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in Bali earlier this month, but Tunisia was in the midst of a ministerial reshuffle.
“The signing will probably take place during the Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) in October, or when the trade minister visits,” he said.
Misrawi believes that the IT-PTA will strengthen Indonesia’s export potential to Europe, the Middle East and Africa via Tunisia.
In a separate statement, Misrawi said his country was exploring the export potential of coffee and paper to complement the main export products to Tunisia.
Currently, Indonesia’s main export products to Tunisia are oil palm, furniture, fruit and fishery products, and vehicle spare parts.
The measures taken to improve export capacity to Tunisia are part of efforts to stimulate the economy as desired by President Joko Widodo, Misrawi said.
