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US seeks concrete, ‘not flashy’ deals with Indonesia
A high-level United States business delegation is in Jakarta this week to strike "concrete deals" and reduce Indonesia's trade surplus with Washington, the US ambassador to Indonesia has said.
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Charge d’affaires of the United States Mission to ASEAN James Carouso (left) is amused as he and his wife Elizabeth (right) join hands with then-coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister Wiranto (second left), ASEAN secretary-general Lim Jock Hoi (third left), US Ambassador to Indonesia Joseph R. Donovan Jr. (third right) and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati during an event to celebrate US Independence Day at the ambassador’s house in Jakarta on July 4, 2019. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
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he United States is on the hunt for concrete business deals with Indonesia, the resident US envoy has said ahead of a visit this week of a high-level US business delegation that seeks to reduce America’s trade deficit with its Asian partners.
Led by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the trade mission plans to bring around 15 to 20 business executives to Indonesia, said US Ambassador to Indonesia Joseph R. Donovan Jr.
“It shows [...] the importance that we attach to Indonesia and [our resolve] to increase our trade and investments,” he told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday on the sidelines of the launch of a photo exhibition held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of US-Indonesia relations.
The envoy was also quick to pad any big expectations from the meeting, saying that concrete deals between the US and Indonesia could not be conjured up in an instant.
”We're not looking for a flashy agreement that does not amount to anything, we're looking for concrete business deals,” he said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for US businesses [...] to show their commitment to engaging with [the Indonesian private sector] and also to explore with their counterparts here deals that they can make in the future.”
Ross’ visit to Indonesia follows a stopover in Thailand where ASEAN leaders and partners gathered for a weekend of summitry that provided little more than a lukewarm response to Washington as it downgraded its participation in the absence of President Donald Trump.
Standing in for Trump, national security adviser Robert O’Brien said Washington had to defend its relationship with ASEAN “at all costs” as the US and China battled for influence in the region.
