Jakarta. Indonesia and Slovenia are mulling a logistics cooperation through the Port of Koper, the only Slovenian international cargo port, to give a major boost to bilateral trade.

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi on Wednesday welcomed a visit by her Slovenian counterpart Tanja Fajon. Economic cooperation was high on the agenda, with the talks revolving around the port which lies in the northern part of the Adriatic Sea.

“We explored the possibility of logistics cooperation with Port of Koper to boost our trade,” Retno said in a joint press conference shortly after the meeting.

According to Retno, Indonesia-Slovenia trade is witnessing a 14.71-percent upward trend over the past five years. 

Government data shows bilateral trade stood at $221.5 million in 2022, up from $152.3 million in the previous year. Slovenia is also Indonesia’s second-largest trading partner in the Balkans.

Fajon said she would soon meet with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) to promote the port.

“We want more businesses in Indonesia to know more about our Port of Koper, which is one of the northernmost Mediterranean ports. Through the Port of Koper, Slovenia is the shortest way from Asia to Central and Southeast Europe, as well as East European countries,” Fajon told the same conference.

Both countries also agreed to explore more potential trade cooperation on pharmaceuticals, textile products, and furniture.