President Joko Widodo to Boost Economic Cooperation During US State Visit

President Joko Widodo to Boost Economic Cooperation During US State Visit

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo accompanied by First Lady Ibu Iriana and several officials of the Government of Indonesia is going to the US for a state visit from Saturday (24/10) to Thursday (29/10).

“His first focus on this state visit is, how to boost the economic cooperation between the two countries. It is really important and not only for the sake of US only, but also for the benefit of Indonesia. Second, the President will discuss the issues of environment and security,” Presidential communication team member Ari Dwipayana said at the Presidential Palace area, Jakarta, several days ago.

However, Ari denied the assumption that the state visit is more focused on business issue. He asserted that in this visit, President Joko Widodo will meet the Government of America and also the civilians. “So, it is not only for business,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Communication and Information Technology Rudiantara who will accompany the President in the visit said that the main agenda of President Joko Widodo is to meet the high officials of information technology companies in Silicon Valley.

“One of the agenda is to share ideas and learn about the management of startup and e-commerce,” Rudiantara said.

According to the Minister, the state visit will establish further cooperation on e-commerce, as well as to share the information regarding financing system, logistic and customer protection on the startup.

In his state visit, President Joko Widodo is scheduled to visit Silicon Valley, the area where giant technology companies in California are located. Minister Rudiantara who will accompany the President in the visit will invite the CEO of Go-Jek Nadiem Makarim, CEO of Kibar Kreasi Indonesia Yansen Kamto, and CEO of Tokopedia William Tanuwijaya to join the visit.

Rudiantara said that his side will discuss about the development of e-commerce. In Silicon Valley, they will visit several big technology companies such as Google and Facebook to share their ideas and learn about the management of startup and e-commerce. Rudiantara also said that it is possible to have a further cooperation on e-commerce in the future.

“Who knows that someday there might be Jakarta-Silicon Valley axis”, Rudiantara said while explaining that Indonesia will become the biggest digital economic area in Southeast Asia by using e-commerce as the motor.

According to Rudiantara, the Government has set the target of e-commerece business to reach US$130 billion in 2020. “Therefore, we will see the real condition, how many technopreneurs are needed and how large the area is and what other things that must be prepared,” the Minister explained.

Rudiantara added that they will exchange information on budgeting system, logistic and customer protection on the startup. “We will share knowledge so that Indonesia could have a unicorn (established) e-commerce,” the Minister added.

The information is really important because the Minister of Communication and Information Technology only allows established companies to get foreign funding. Companies at startup level as well as small and medium enterprises (UKM), should not receive any foreign funding because it is more profitable for foreign parties.

“We must develop the startup (business) first. After they have values and became established  company, then they can receive foreign funding,” Rudiantara added.

In his state visit to the US, President Joko Widodo is scheduled to visit the headquater of Apple in Cupertino, California. The President will also have a dinner with the CEO of Apple Tim Cook, and discuss about Apple’s plan to invest in tin mining.

Furthermore, President Jokowi also have a plan to talk with the CEO of Google, Facebook and Microsoft. With Google, the President wants to discuss about the internet access distribution to remote areas. Meanwhile, the President will discuss about the cooperation to materialize high-quality technology education in universities in Indonesia when talking to Facebook and Microsoft. (WID/AS) (RAS/MMB/LW/Naster)