The Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) Santiago has initiated and continues to facilitate business meetings between PT Sango Ceramics Indonesia and the Sodimac supermarket network. This initiative has resulted in the export of ceramic tableware to Sodimac retail valued at USD 96,873 or approximately IDR 1.5 billion. These products have now been introduced to Sodimac stores in August. One of the modern retail networks specialising in home goods, Sodimac, has imported Indonesian ceramic tableware following several business meetings over the past two years. This also signifies the effective utilisation of the Indonesia-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IC-CEPA) trade agreement, as tariff elimination applies to ceramic tableware products.
Sodimac is a retail network not only present in Chile but also has modern retail stores in Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Uruguay, and Brazil. Hence, the ceramic tableware will also be marketed in these countries, presenting an opportunity to promote the quality of Indonesian products in the Latin American region. The entry of Indonesian products in the tableware segment in Chile through Sodimac marks a significant step, as Sodimac imposes strict criteria on its suppliers. Firstly, a commendable production capacity to establish long-term partnerships. Secondly, an orientation towards environmentally-friendly supply chains and social well-being. According to data from the Ministry of Trade, Indonesia's total trade with Chile in 2022 reached a value of USD 584 million. This marked a 37.5% increase from the total trade value in 2021. During the period of January to May 2023, Indonesia has recorded a trade surplus with Chile amounting to USD 30.9 million. There has been a positive trend of increasing trade values over the past five years (2017-2021), growing by 7.9%.
