JAKARTA: Malaysia and Indonesia are moving closer to reopening trade through the Tebedu-Entikong border route, with the remaining administrative matters expected to be resolved soon.
Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso said both countries had agreed on the substantive and regulatory aspects of the border trade issue, with only a few administrative matters remaining.
"I don't think there are any issues concerning the border because we have agreed on the substantive and regulatory aspects. There may be some administrative matters that we still need to resolve, and hopefully these can be completed soon,” he told Bernama.
He was met after co-chairing the fourth Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC) meeting here on Thursday with Malaysia's Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
Johari, who was interviewed alongside Budi, said Malaysia was ready on its side while Indonesia was working on the remaining matters.
"I think they are working on it because Indonesia also wants a lot of our products to go to them and they also want to export to us. So if the border is efficient, both parties will benefit,” he said.
Tebedu, in Malaysia's eastern state of Sarawak, lies across the international border from Entikong in Indonesia's West Kalimantan province, forming a key land crossing between the two countries.
According to a Malaysian parliamentary reply, trade through Tebedu-Entikong declined after Indonesia imposed restrictions on seven categories of goods entering Kalimantan through the crossing from May 15, 2014, including food and beverages, clothing and textiles, footwear and electronics.
A Bernama report dated Sept 14 last year said Malaysia and Indonesia had agreed to reopen the Tebedu-Entikong route for bilateral trade following discussions between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta.
The Entikong-Tebedu route was also among the key issues highlighted in the JTIC outcomes, with Budi saying during the joint press statement that both countries were committed to the effective implementation of the Border Trade Agreement (BTA) and continued efforts to facilitate border trade and strengthen economic connectivity through the crossing.
He said the meeting also addressed market access and trade facilitation, including agriculture and food products, stronger investment cooperation and a productive investment climate, as well as cooperation in areas such as e-commerce, agriculture, halal and standards.
Meanwhile, Johari said the fourth JTIC was the first meeting of the bilateral trade mechanism in nine years, adding that he had invited Budi to Kuala Lumpur for the fifth meeting next year. - Bernama
