The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday said it will look into the non-availability of certain Made in India products such as condiments, basmati rice, Indian tea, and Bhujia in Indonesia.
A number of Indian citizens had complained and lamented that they missed seeing these products on the shelves of department stores for the past year.
Speaking to WION, Preeti Saran, Secretary (East), MEA said that the ministry would look into the issue and address all the issues.
Saran added that trade ministers from both nations meet once a year to look into these issues. She, however, maintained that this issue was not specific to the Indian diaspora in Indonesia. “Sometimes it also depends on the size of the community,” she said.
The MEA official also said that the government is working towards liberalizing the visa regime to facilitate greater people to people contact between India and Indonesia.
A number of Indians living in the southeast Asian nation also return home for medical treatment for want of better doctors and affordable healthcare. Medical services are expensive in Indonesia, and India works far better for the diaspora as a cheap medical destination.
In context of Indian community’s desire to access Indian educational institutions, Saran said, “We take it as a compliment and we will be happy to encourage such linkages.”
Meanwhile, India’s ambassador to Indonesia Pradeep Rawat added that the availability of Indian condiments and foodstuffs may differ depending on the region. “Basmati may not be available in Jakarta, but it may not be the case in Sumatra,” he said, adding that it could be an issue of demand and supply. “Quarantine regimes comes into effect time to time delaying the movement of goods which is not limited to Indonesia as it is a global phenomenon,” he added.
Rawat added that the Indian Embassy in Jakarta has ministerial channels and dedicated working groups which take up such issues time to time to the community’s satisfaction.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "PM Modi is expected to address the Indian diaspora later tonight")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}