ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi said that 10 ambassadors from friendly countries had submitted letters of credence to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday, August 8 2024.
The ambassadors expressed their respective countries’ commitment to strengthening cooperation with Indonesia.
“Indonesia has good relations with these 10 countries. “Some of them are Indonesia’s main trading partners or economic cooperation partners,” said Retno.
Retno revealed that Indonesia and the United States (US) are pushing for negotiations regarding the Critical Mineral Agreement (CMA) and the extension of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for Indonesia.
Then with Tunisia, Indonesia is completing the Indonesia-Tunisia Preferential Trade Agreement.
“We plan if we can, if we get it this year it will be finished. “And if the Preferential Trade Agreement can be completed, the projection is that our exports will increase by 32.82 percent,” he explained.
Furthermore, Indonesia and Russia are also pushing for the completion of the Indonesia-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (Indonesia-EAEU FTA) negotiations. According to Retno, this trade cooperation can increase trade between Indonesia and EAEU member countries.
“With the European Union member countries Bulgaria, Lithuania, Slovenia, we are pushing for the completion of the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations,” he added.
He also revealed that Indonesia is actively helping to strengthen cooperation between Latin American and European countries. For this reason, the government has taken the initiative to explore a number of economic collaborations with these countries through a forum which will be held in Peru and Jakarta.
“Indonesia has several initiatives, including the Indonesia-Latin America and The Caribbean Business Forum which this year will be held in September in Peru and also the Indonesia-Europe Business Forum which this year will be held on October 7 and 8 in Jakarta,” said Retno .
Furthermore, Retno also said that relations between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have been very well established in both bilateral and Pacific contexts. He said that PNG has a very important role in the Pacific, so Indonesia will continue to strengthen cooperation with Papua New Guinea in the Pacific.
“After this activity, after handing over the credentials, one by one I will receive them to provide more detailed priorities for cooperation with the ten countries,” concluded Retno. (AT Network)
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