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Jokowi’s canceled Australia visit puts five MoUs on hold
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Bilateral talks: President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (third right) attends a breakfast meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (second left) on the sidelines of the 28th and 29th ASEAN summits in Vientiane, Laos, on Sept. 8. Both leaders were flanked by top officials of their respective countries. (Courtesy of Presidential Office/Laily Rachev)
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ndonesia and Australia must put five bilateral memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on hold following the recent cancellation of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s visit to its southern neighbor.
Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman Thomas “Tom” Lembong said Indonesia and Australia had actually planned to sign six MoUs during President Jokowi’s planned visit, which was initially scheduled for Nov. 6 to 8.
Although he and Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita proceeded with a plan to meet their counterparts in Australia, Tom said they only managed to wrap up an MoU between state-owned mining company Aneka Tambang (Antam) and Newcrest, Australia's leading gold producer, on gold mining exploration.
“The rest will be signed when the President arrives there," he said on Thursday on the sidelines of DBS Asian Insights Conference 2016 in Jakarta.
Tom did not specify the details of the five other MoUs, but he hinted that some of them related to cooperation in cattle breeding and mining joint ventures.
Following a violent rally in front of the State Palace on Nov. 4, President Jokowi decided to postpone his visit to Australia, which was expected to strengthen economic and maritime cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
The President’s trip was planned as a reciprocal visit, after Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited Indonesia last November. (hwa)
