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View all search resultsPresident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is to embark on a diplomatic tour of five member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) next week in a bid to strengthen Indonesia’s strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is to embark on a diplomatic tour of five member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) next week in a bid to strengthen Indonesia’s strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.
During the series of state visits from Jan. 24 to 29 Jokowi is to meet his counterparts in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan with economic cooperation as the main agenda item for each encounter, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on Thursday.
“[The visits] bring new opportunities for Indonesia to develop and strengthen economic cooperation with those countries,” she said. “One of them is trade cooperation.”
Retno made the announcement following a closed-door meeting with Jokowi at the Presidential Palace, during which relevant government officials discussed the preparation and scheduling of the five-day trip.
Indonesia already has expanding trade links with SAARC countries that involve not only raw materials such as palm oil and coal, but also manufactured goods, and is negotiating comprehensive trade agreements with them as well.
Citing an example of a current link, Retno said state train manufacturer PT INKA has been exporting railway cars to Bangladesh for the past two years: 150 in 2016 and 250 in 2017.
“We want to develop such success stories with neighboring countries [of Bangladesh],” Retno said, adding that the visits were also expected to boost investment opportunities for Indonesia.
In addition to economic matters, the President also plans to discuss humanitarian issues during his visits as part of furthering Indonesia’s commitment to peace and humanitarian diplomacy, Retno said.
During her recently delivered annual statement, Retno made it clear that Indonesia would this year would not only make diplomatic overtures in the Asia-Pacific region, but also across the vast Indian Ocean.
The Indo-Pacific region, which includes all countries on the coasts of the Indian and the Pacific oceans, appears to be Indonesia’s current focus for enhancing multilateral cooperation, including over maritime security, given that it is in line with Jokowi’s vision of developing Indonesia as a maritime nation.
During his visit to India on Jan. 25 and 26, Jokowi would be unlikely to meet one-on-one with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi because he would be attending the 25th ASEAN-India Special Commemorative Summit, Retno said.
National leaders were scheduled to discuss both international and regional issues, Retno said, although during a retreat session the focus is to be on maritime cooperation. Although Jokowi has no plans to meet separately with other leaders, considering his tight schedule, Retno said there would be a chance for him to engage in “pull-aside” meetings with his counterparts.
She went on to say that Indonesia hoped Modi would visit Jakarta later this year.
Jokowi’s visit to Afghanistan is to follow up on President Ashraf Gani’s request of April 2016 for Indonesia to assist in peace-building in the war-torn country, Retno said. Indonesia plans to provide the Afghans with more assistance for training, including women empowerment and an exchange of ulemas, she said.
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