05/10/2011 (Fiji Times) - INDONESIAN Ambassador, Chandra Salim has called on the business community to consider improving trade relations with his country.

In his presentation during a lunch organised at the Holiday Inn by the Suva Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Mr Salim said, considering Fiji's currency power over Indonesia, Fiji's business owners should consider importing products such as rubber, chemical products, palm oil and even furniture from there.

Fiji commonly imports these products from Australia and New Zealand at usually greater costs.

He said with businesses buying from Indonesia, there is a win- win situation for both countries.

Improved trade relations could also mean extensive reduction in import expenses for Fiji.

Fiji has diplomatic ties with Indonesia since 1974.

However, Mr Salim said, there was still room for improvement.

"We can still further boost our economic agreement," Mr Salim said.

"It is a coincidence that we're looking East and Fiji is looking North. This is a good opportunity for us to improve relations and trade. We have also extended technical cooperations with Pacific countries, including Fiji and in the last few years, there has been 50 Fijians that have participated in our capacity building programs, we're improving that and by doing so, we're able to improve our people to people contact.

"However, trade between Fiji and Indonesia is very small, not even $18million in 2010, so I do hope that we could improve our trade cooperation in the near future.

"I would like to encourage you to find opportunities with Indonesia."

Indonesia exports furniture, automotive and equipment, palm oil, soap, rubber etc to Fiji, totalling $US25.34million ($F46.53m) for 2008. Indonesia's extent of imports from Fiji is around $US300,000 ($F550,964).

"I think you can do more than this, because your trade with other countries are quite big, why not Indonesia?

"After identifying these products, I can still say there is still room for others to participate, whether in the same product or other products."

Mr Salim encouraged businesses to be part of the Trade Expo Indonesia which will be held from October 19 to 23 in Kemayoran - Jakarta, Indonesia.