Indonesia has assured it would continue supplying the Philippines with coal.
But only after domestic issues in that country are resolved.
This was the assurance given by Airlangga Hartarto, coordinating minister for Economic
Affairs of Indonesia to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez during their bilateral meeting on Jan. 21, 2022.
No details were provided by a press statement issued by the Department of Trade and Industry on the matter except that Lopez supposed to have expressed to Hartarto the Philippines is hopeful its concerns regarding coal exportation will be addressed soon.
Hartarto said the Ministry of Agriculture in Indonesia is open and ready to assist exporters from the Philippines for their products to enter the Indonesian market.
Lopez in the meeting expressed that the lowering trade barriers which facilitated the smooth entry of Filipino products into Indonesia particularly agriculture, industrial and more halal certified products.
In return, he said the Philippine market remains open for Indonesian products and reiterated that trade and investments are vital to ramp up economic recovery.
As of last week, the Indonesian government has eased its coal export ban for as much as 139 companies after local firms succeeded in meeting requirements to avert a shortage and power outages.
At the start of the year, Indonesia imposed a coal export ban which is seen to be fully lifted by the end of the month. – Irma Isip
