RI DELAYING FREE TRADE TALKS WITH A'LIA, NZ, EUROPE

Jakarta, March 25 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has decided to delay Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with Australia, New Zealand and Europe in order to have more time to familiarize its people about the schemes, a minister said.

"We have not decided to commence FTA negotiations with Australia, New Zealand and EFTA (European Free Trade Association)," Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said here on Thursday.

She said the government would provide comprehensive information to the people and business world so that they would not be too worried later such as had happened with the ASEAN-China FTA.

"We are still in the familiarization process. We want to have enough time to introduce the schemes to the people and tell them what we are going to do," the minister said.

She said that other government agencies, including business associations grouped in the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), had carried out good coordination in preparing the negotiations.

The minister gave the assurance that the familiarization process would not last too long or not exceed five years. She also denied that Indonesia was trying back out from free trade systems.

"Joining free trade schemes is something new so we need more time to explain its positive aspects and benefits, and to see if there is something that could be a source of concern," the minister said.