The signing of the
"Last year, of the US$191 million we exported to Indonesia, about US$70 million came from cacao, whether in bean or powder form, as well as some fruits," Aquino told Andina News Agency.
According to the academic, "the free trade agreement is interesting because, first, it will reduce tariffs on exports of agro-industrial products in which Peru is competitive, such as cacao, blueberries, avocados, coffee, mangoes, and others."
"This agreement brings into effect zero tariffs for 56% of the products we already export to Indonesia, while 30% of the remaining products we export to that market will see their tariffs reduced to 0% within 5 to 10 years. Therefore, I believe this window of opportunity should be seized by exporting agro-industrial products," he added.
Aquino noted that Indonesia is an almost new trade destination for Peru, given that only US$191 million in goods were exported there in 2024, which means there is a wide range of opportunities to explore.
"Indonesia is a relatively new market for our country, which is why it is important for Peruvian entrepreneurs to visit and get to know it, as it is somewhat different," Aquino stated.
"Let's remember that in Indonesia, 85% of the population of 280 million people are Muslim. Thus, the product offerings must be tailored accordingly since they do not eat pork or consume alcoholic beverages, but it is very important," he added.
"It is a country that, over the past 40 years, has grown at an average annual rate of nearly 5%; according to estimates, in the next 5 to 10 years it could rank among the 5 to 10 largest economies in the world, given its growth," Aquino highlighted.
"Our trade balance with Indonesia is in deficit because they sell us more than we sell them. We import textiles, shoes, automobiles, as well as auto parts and components, in addition to electronic products," he concluded.