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Enchancing Economic Collaboration: Minister Airlangga's ASEAN and Japan Meetings at OECD
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inister of Coordinating Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto engaged in bilateral discussions with both ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa during the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris, France. The talks encompassed crucial topics such as Indonesia's OECD accession process, exploration of the ASEAN-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and advancements in the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao expressed support for Indonesia's OECD accession progress, emphasizing its significance for ASEAN representation within the OECD. He also urged Indonesia's backing in exploring the ASEAN-GCC FTA, foreseeing economic growth benefits for both regions. Minister Airlangga endorsed these initiatives, highlighting the potential of the Indonesia-UAE CEPA as a model for ASEAN in fostering regional FTAs.
Discussions further touched on the digitalization initiatives within ASEAN, particularly negotiations surrounding the ASEAN DEFA, aiming to boost the region's digital economy to USD 2 trillion by 2030. Minister Airlangga emphasized the need for increased collaboration between ASEAN and the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP) to facilitate economic growth.
Additionally, Minister Airlangga met with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa to discuss strategic issues relevant to the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. They reaffirmed their commitment to leverage OECD's global cooperation platform for robust policy development. Both ministers stressed the importance of closer economic ties between Indonesia and Japan, focusing on economic growth, workforce skill enhancement, and education to address global challenges.
Within the bilateral framework, they agreed to expedite the signing of the Protocol Amendment to the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA) following discussions between President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Minister Airlangga also sought Japan's support within the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to broaden market access.
These bilateral meetings underscored both countries' commitment to strengthening cooperation amid complex economic and social challenges in the era of globalization. With the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting serving as the backdrop, Indonesia and Japan united in their determination to lead objective, reliable, and sustainable global discussions, towards inclusive growth and a better future for all.
