Indonesia and France agree to boost cooperation in trade

Indonesian Tourism, Creative Economy Minister Marie Elka Pangestu said that Indonesia and France have agreed to further discuss possibilities of boosting cooperation in tourism and creative economy sectors. In a statement released by the ministry on Monday, the minister said that the agreement was signed after her meetings with French International Trade Minister Nicole Bircq, Art, Trade and Tourism Minister Sylvia Pinelmet and Foreign Affairs Secretary General Pierre Sellal during her recent official visit to France. \"During a meeting with Silvia Pinelmet we discussed development in tourism and creative economy sector, particularly the significant role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs),\" she said in the statement. She added the two sides agreed to draft further frameworks to enhance cooperation in tourism sector, saying that cooperation in the sector has been identified as part of strategic ties between the two countries. \"I invited Sylvia Pinelmet to visit Indonesia to discuss further on cooperation improvements in sustainable tourism, education and training and in private sector,\" the minister said. She added that her meetings with Nicole Bricq and Pierre Sellal discussed ways to enhance bilateral ties with France and the European Union. The two-way trade between Indonesia and France stood at 2.7 billion U.S. dollars from January to November last year, growing at an average of 7.23 percent on year.