SANTIAGO/JAKARTA – Chilean President Michelle Bachelet is scheduled to start a two-day state visit to Indonesia tomorrow (Thursday) to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Bachelet has accepted an invitation by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to meet with him to discuss efforts to strengthen bilateral ties in the economic, trade and marine and fisheries sectors, while also increasing cultural exchanges.
The Southeast Asian country is currently negotiating a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Chile, which has the potential to increase bilateral trade and investment between the two states.
Chile is viewed by many Indonesian businesspersons as a potential jumping-off point for their products entering the South American market. The government has also stated that penetrating South American markets is a top priority to advance economic interests in that region.
Chile is Indonesia’s third-largest trade partner in South America, with total trade between the two countries valued at $227 million last year.
Bachelet will also attend a Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) seminar on Indonesia-Chile relations and visit the secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Jakarta.
