After a record year of trade with Canada, the Indonesian government has launched a series of initiatives with local businesses and groups in B.C.
The efforts focus on Indonesia’s agricultural products and aim to keep historic trade figures rising.
“We bring the food that comes from our farming across the country.… They are all healthy, because we make them from nature, from our land and seas,” said Andri Satria Permana, director of the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center in Vancouver, at a food tasting event for local businesspeople last month.
“We have around 70,000 islands, so we have abundant resources in fisheries and agriculture. The diversity of Indonesian food is one of our advantages to bring our products to the B.C. and Canadian markets.”
The event, held at the centre in Gastown, featured a diverse selection of food cooked with organic Indonesian ingredients, including coconut sugar, palm syrup, Bali salt, heirloom rice, veggie noodles, natural food colourants and various spices.
It was the first time the Indonesian government flew local entrepreneurs to Canada to present the country’s agricultural products. Promoting Indonesian agriculture and fisheries will be the embassy’s priority in 2023; it’s part of Indonesia’s ambitious plan to break its status quo trade with Canada and grow to be Canada’s major trade partner.
“For the past 70 years of Indonesian-Canadian relations, we only saw business as usual. But we would like to bring more of an impact from our people and unlock more potential for both countries,” Hendra Halim, consul general of Indonesia in Vancouver, told BIV.
“British Columbia has the highest trade value with Indonesia compared to other Canadian provinces. It is our gateway to Canada and main hub to increase Indonesia-Canada trade.”
Source : BIV
