ASIATODAY.ID, TOKYO – The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida welcomed the completion of substantive negotiations on the Protocol to Change the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA) which began in 2019 and is targeted to be implemented in the first quarter of 2024 .
There are three main points in IJEPA for Indonesia. First, improving Indonesian market access in Japan. Second, expanding banking market access, and finally the Manufacturing Industrial Development Center (MIDEC) collaboration which can support Indonesian industry to become a regional production base.
In the MRT development collaboration, President Joko Widodo expressed his appreciation for Japan’s commitment to building the east-west line and hoped that the next phase of construction could be completed according to plan. President Joko Widodo hopes that the construction of the north-south route phases 2A and 2B can be completed on time.
“I hope that the construction of the North – South Route for Phases 2A and 2B can be completed on time,” said Jokowi during a bilateral meeting with Kishida at the Japanese PM’s Office, Tokyo, Saturday, December 16 2023.
Meanwhile, related to the energy transition, Indonesia as the Co-initiator of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) reiterated the importance of De-Carbonization cooperation, inclusive financing and low-carbon technology transfer. Apart from that, AZEC must be able to ensure the follow-up to the 12 MoUs that were signed at the AZEC Ministerial level meeting several months ago.
President Joko Widodo also asked for support to accelerate three priority projects. “We ask for support to accelerate three priority projects, namely the Geothermal Power Plant in Muara Laboh, the Legok Nangka Waste to Energy project in West Java, and peatland management in Central Kalimantan,” stressed President Joko Widodo.
Apart from that, there were three other forms of cooperation between Indonesia and Japan that were agreed upon at the bilateral meeting, namely agreeing to grant a patrol boat to the Maritime Security Agency of the Republic of Indonesia, accelerating the construction of the Integrated Motorway (MRT) route, and a Memorandum of Understanding in the health sector.
During the meeting, the two state leaders also discussed cooperation in the critical mineral and maritime sectors. President Joko Widodo hopes that Japan can support the progress of downstreaming the Indonesian mineral industry and Indonesia’s contribution as an important part of the global electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain.
“I also hope for greater support for the economic development of Indonesia’s outer islands, including the development of the fishing industry as well as grants for patrol and fishing boats,” said President Joko Widodo.
The two leaders also inaugurated cooperation in the health sector, especially cardiovascular. The meeting between the two resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding between Harapan Kita Heart and Blood Vessel Hospital and Tokushukai Medical Corporation worth 10 billion yen.
Finally, President Joko Widodo and PM Kishida also discussed issues related to Palestine. President Joko Widodo emphasized Indonesia’s commitment to continue working for a permanent ceasefire, planning sustainable humanitarian assistance, and encouraging the start of a peace process to achieve a two-state solution as soon as possible.
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, who accompanied President Joko Widodo, emphasized that he would follow up and coordinate the results of discussions at bilateral meetings between the two countries, especially regarding various collaborations within the framework of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC). (AT Network)
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