Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Poland wants to reduce its trade deficit with Indonesia, and the European country is seeking to promote its agrifood exports, according to its deputy foreign minister Wojciech Gerwel.

"We are primarily concerned by our trade deficit [with Indonesia]. So we are interested in promoting our exports, especially in agri-food. As well as in green technologies, energy, and information technology," Polish deputy foreign minister Wojciech Gerwel told a press briefing in Jakarta on Tuesday evening.

"In terms of exports, we hope to open the market for our beef and blueberries," Gerwel said.

The Indonesian Trade Ministry data shows that bilateral trade with Poland hit $1.4 billion in 2022. Indonesia's exports to Poland stood at $1.1 billion that year, marking a huge trade deficit for the European nation.

Poland attributed its high Indonesian imports last year to its coal shortage. Poland last year banned Russian coal imports following the war in Ukraine. Poland today is still heavily dependent on combustible black rock for power generation.

Gerwel's visit to Indonesia put emphasis on bolstering bilateral economic cooperation.

When asked about Polish investors' interest in Indonesia's new capital Nusantara megaproject, Gerwel said: "We have powerful smart city solutions. We have drone technologies in the IT sector. [...] We see ourselves as an interesting partner for Indonesia. We have enjoyed robust economic growth over the past 30 years."

Government data shows Polish investment in Indonesia totaled $2 million last year. The Nusantara authority body recently announced that they had received more than 220 letters of intent from potential investors.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/business/poland-banks-on-agrifood-to-cut-trade-deficit-with-indonesi