Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed his belief that the Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which reduces duties on export goods will help resolve non-tariff barriers in trade between the two countries.

"The barriers in question have already been considered in a constructive way to find the best solution. When it comes to non-tariff barriers, for instance, we must improve the quality of our products as required by the Japanese market," President Yudhoyono said in a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe here Monday.

Both countries would make every effort to ensure that Indonesia`s exports to Japan would not be subjected to non-tariff barriers by among others improving the quality of Indonesian products to meet the Japanese standards, he said.

"We will provide training to producers of agricultural, fishery and manufactured goods to ensure that the quality of their products meets the Japanese market," he said.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said the EPA stipulated that Japan would provide training and technological know how to ensure that Indonesian products, such as banana could enter its market.

"They have promised to assist us to ensure that our fruits will be free from `fruit fly` by among others providing us with equipment and training," she said.

In addition, Japan would also provide Indonesia with official development assistance (ODA) to help the latter overcome the non-tariff barriers, she said.

"The amount of assistance will be calculated in detail before the EPA is implemented probably early next year after being ratified by the two nations," she said.

Japan is one of the biggest markets for Indonesian exports. In 2006, Indonesia`s exports to Japan were valued at US$21.7 billion, while its imports from the latter stood at US$5.5 billion.

Indonesia`s primary exports to Japan included agricultural, fishery and plantation products worth US$919 million, footwear US$118 million, timber and processed products US$1.17 billion, rubber US$ 971 million, plastic goods US$380 million, nickel and its products US$1.30 billion, aluminum and its products US$449 million and furniture US$5.5 billion. (*)

Antara news, August 21, 2007