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Japan remains committed to RI development
For a brighter future: Vice President Jusuf Kalla (center) offers toast together with Japan Ambassador to Indonesia Yasuaki Tanizaki (left) and Japan Ambassador to ASEAN Koichi Aiboshi during a reception celebrating the birthday of the Emperor of Japan at Hotel Mulia Senayan, Jakarta on Tuesday
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span class="inline inline-center">For a brighter future: Vice President Jusuf Kalla (center) offers toast together with Japan Ambassador to Indonesia Yasuaki Tanizaki (left) and Japan Ambassador to ASEAN Koichi Aiboshi during a reception celebrating the birthday of the Emperor of Japan at Hotel Mulia Senayan, Jakarta on Tuesday. JP/Jerry Adiguna
As Japan celebrates the impending birthday of its Emperor, the country's relations with Indonesia remain stronger than ever, with more commitment toward assisting Indonesian infrastructure development as well as increasing investments in Indonesia.
Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Yasuaki Tanizaki said Japan remains committed to helping President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's maritime axis vision by assisting in building ports and assisting as well in the fisheries industry.
Aside from that, Tanizaki also mentioned that recent bilateral talks conducted by Jokowi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had affirmed the country's commitment to investing in Indonesia.
'In the economic sector, Japanese investment to Indonesia has risen sharply with over US$4.71 billion being put into Indonesian-related projects, making Japan Indonesia's largest investor. Most of the investment is channeled toward the manufacturing industry, which also contributes to creating jobs,' Tanizaki said in his speech at the Emperor's Birthday celebrations on Tuesday.
The construction of ports, the mass rapid transit (MRT) system and electric power plants are among the projects that Japan aims to target regarding Indonesian investment. One of the tenders of the ongoing MRT project in Jakarta is Japanese company Shimizu Corporation.
Among the attendees of the Emperor's Birthday event on Tuesday at the Mulia Hotel included Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo and People's Representatives Council (MPR) Deputy Speaker Oesman Sapta.
Currently, Japan is one of Indonesia's largest trade partners, with $46 billion in total trade recorded in 2013.
Indonesia has become an increasingly important investment hub for foreign companies, especially from Japan, with Kroll, the global leader in risk mitigation and response, saying that Japanese foreign direct investment (FDI), which accounted for 16.4 percent of market share in early 2014, had continued to grow from year to year.
In 2013, Indonesia overtook Thailand to become the second-highest recipient of Japanese FDI in ASEAN.
Meanwhile, as a reflection toward the constantly maintained ties between the two nations, the Japanese government decided to implement the visa-exemption policy for Indonesians planning to visit Japan for 15 days or less. The Indonesian visa waiver policy took place on Dec. 1.
Tanizaki noted that the total amount of visitors from both Indonesia and Japan visiting both respective countries reached up to 610,000 people in 2013 and sees that number increasing this year.
The Emperor's Birthday is considered a national holiday in Japan, with reigning Emperor Akihito turning 81 on Dec. 23.
