At the Indonesian House of Representatives Plenary Meeting for the Ratification of the AAEC Bill, in Jakarta, on September 7. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Informatics) Indonesian Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi said the ratification of the AAEC is anopportunity to expand Indonesia's e-commerce sector to the ASEAN level aftershowing positive growth in the country.
The main priority Indonesia needs to focus on is making the AAEC a tool toboost its economic activity and domestic policy adjustments, whichcan ultimately encourage economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic throughthe use of digital technology, especially through electronic trading systems (PMSE).
The bill is intended as a way to increase the value of trade in goods andservices through the use of PMSE; increasing the competitiveness of domesticbusiness actors, especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); andthe creation of solutions to enable national MSMEs to participate in theglobal value chain.
It is also expected to facilitate trade transactions between ASEANregions, encourage the creation of an enabling environment for the use ofPMSE, and strengthen cooperation among ASEAN member countries to develop andpromote e-commerce to create inclusive growth and reduce inequality in the bloc.
The decision to ratify the AAEC shows a significant meaning because theagreement serves as the legal basis for cooperation in the intergovernmentale-commerce sector in ASEAN. It is also expected to improve Indonesia’scompetitiveness in the ASEAN region./.
VNA
