President Jokowi Promotes MSMEs in ASEAN-ROK
President Jokowi takes a group photo with ASEAN Heads of State/Heads of Government and President of South Korea on Wednesday (7/9), at the National Convention Center, Vientiane, Laos
President Joko Jokowi Widodo has urged North Korea to respect the United Nations Security Resolution on Denuclearization. The President also called on all sides to restrain themselves from taking any provocative actions. The statement was made at the 18th ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Summit on Wednesday (7/9), in Vientiane, Laos.
On that occasion, President Jokowi also mentioned the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in ASEAN and South Korea that absorbs almost 90 percent of labor and contributes about 50 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
President Jokowi suggested to empower the MSMEs in ASEAN-ROK bilateral relations, by increasing the productivity, innovation, technology, and research, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said.
The President also emphasized the importance of cooperation on creative industry sector because South Korea is capable in that sector. The President added that potential value of South Korea industry reached US$26 billion, while the total potential value of industry sector in ASEAN is US$50 billion.
For ASEAN, South Korea plays a significant role because the country is ASEAN’s 5th largest trading partner, with trade value is at US$122 billion in 2015. South Korea is also ASEAN’s 5th largest partner in investment.
On people-to-people contact, President Jokowi explained that in 2017, there are seven million people moving between ASEAN and ROK. We need to promote ASEAN-ROK cooperation by increasing the number of people and youth exchanges on knowledge transfer for the creative economy and by establishing ASEAN Culture House in Busan in 2017, President Jokowi said.
According to Retno, next year will be filled with a lot of cultural-related activities in order to promote mutual understanding among the community of the two sides. We have agreed to make 2017 as the year of ASEAN-ROK Cultural Exchange. ASEAN Culture House will be established in Busan in 2017, Retno said. (EN/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)
