Indonesia to Enhance Economic and People-to-People Cooperation with 8 Countries

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi responds to reporters’ questions after handing over Letters of Credentials to President Jokowi, on Tuesday (31/5), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta

Eight ambassadors submitted their Letters of Credentials to President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo and presented their cooperation priorities as they officially began their duties in Indonesia.

The statement was delivered by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi after accompanying President Jokowi during a ceremony to receive Letters of Credentials from Ambassadors of Serbia, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Afghanistan, East Timor, Ghana, Botswana, and Lithuania on Tuesday (31/5) at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

“In general, they want to prioritize cooperation on two sectors; economic sector, particularly on trade and investment, and people to people contact,” Retno said.

Many Indonesian investors have also made investment on different sectors in those countries.

“There are many Indonesian businessmen who invest on food production sectors in Ethiopia, Serbia, and Myanmar. Indonesian investors also invest on healthcare sector in Myanmar and Indonesian hospital there is now under construction,” Retno added.

The ambassadors also hope that cooperation on economic sector, particularly on trade and investment, will likely become a reality.

“This is one of the priorities. We will also prioritize people to people contact,” Retno added.

Besides having economic cooperation with those countries, Indonesia is also engaged in cooperation on scholarship with some of them as well as providing training to improve capacity building for the sake of South-South Cooperation.

“Thus, we have agreed to embark on many cooperation,” Retno concluded. (DND/EN) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)