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Transcript/Script
Asian Trade - Utama
HEADLINE: Free Trade Deal to Open Doors for More Chinese Imports to ASEAN Countries
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 4/10/2022 at: 11:30 a.m.
BYLINE: Ahadian Utama
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Jakarta, Indonesia
VIDEOGRAPHER: Ahadian Utama/ Indra Yoga
VIDEO EDITOR: Ahadian Utama
SCRIPT EDITORS: KE(1st); BR
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Original VOA, Reuters
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:32
VID APPROVED BY: MP
TYPE: pkg
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[The ten countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) now comprise China’s largest trading partner, having surpassed the European Union in 2020. That high level of trade between ASEAN and Beijing is about to expand even more, as VOA’s Ahadian Utama reports from Jakarta, Indonesia.]]
((NARRATOR))
Hundreds of people recently packed the Jakarta International Expo Building, for the China Homelife Indonesia exhibit.
102 Chinese companies participated in the exhibition, held in late March, showcasing hundreds of products, ranging from wellness to electronics.
((George Wu, Ezviz)) ((male, in Indonesian))
“Our product is focused on security cameras and smart home appliances. Indonesia is a huge market, and our products are suitable for the Indonesian market.”
((Erwin Apriyansah, InstPower (male, in Indonesian))
“This product is originally from China...and we’ve been selling this since 2019.”
((NARRATOR))
The March event is only one in a series of exhibitions to be held in Indonesia through 2022.
Indonesia - the most populous nation in Southeast Asia - is a lucrative market for Chinese products, say exhibition organizers.
((Andi Wismarsyah, China Homelife Indonesia Exhibit Organizer (male, in Indonesia))
“Indonesia is indeed being targeted to be one of China’s main markets…”
((NARRATOR))
Trade is now expected to grow even higher due to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, involving ASEAN and five non-ASEAN countries including China.
That trade deal signed two years ago went into effect early this year, with the aim of reducing import tariffs and removing investment barriers.
This comes as U.S.-led efforts at free trade in the region have floundered, especially after the Trump administration left the Trans Pacific Partnership, or TPP in 2017.
Analyst David Sumual says regional governments are using recent tension between the U.S. and China to their economic advantage.
((David Sumual, Bank Credit Analyst (male, in Indonesian)
“China is moving faster in pushing the implementation of the RCEP. Several countries are also starting to ratify, and we can use this fight between the China and the U.S. to be our opportunity to gain more investment and trade, especially exports."
((NARRATOR))
((Reuters))
Indonesia is also set to benefit from increased foreign investment.
((David Sumual, Bank Credit Analyst (male, in Indonesian)
"In the next 10-15 years we need a lot of investment because our population is increasing, and they certainly need jobs."
((NARRATOR))
Analysts suggest the RCEP only formalizes an already growing trend; the increase of Indonesian imports of Chinese goods. Government data shows for the past three years, China has become the largest source of non-oil and gas imports, accounting for almost a third of imported goods to Indonesia.
((Ahadian Utama, VOA News, in Jakarta, Indonesia))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Jakarta, Indonesia
Embargo DateApril 10, 2022 12:32 EDT
Byline
((Ahadian Utama, VOA News, in Jakarta, Indonesia))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
