Indonesia Eximbank launched to boost exports

Aditya Suharmoko, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 09/01/2009 2:22 PM

Mahendra Siregar, chairman of Indonesia Eximbank’s board of directors, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Trade Minister Marie Elka Pangestu talk at the official launch of the Indonesia Eximbank in Jakarta on Tuesday. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

The government has officially launched the Indonesia Eximbank, an agency to help finance exports, particularly by micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Indonesia Eximbank will boost the number of exporters, which have difficulty securing financing from other financial institutions, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said Tuesday after the launch ceremony.

"We will identify potential exporters," she said.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said she expected Indonesia Eximbank to help diversify exports to new destination markets.

The Middle East, Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are among the new destination export markets, Mari said.