President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was determined to “bolster bilateral and regional cooperation” with the Philippines on Monday, announcing plans to “significantly increase” trade and infrastructure collaboration and reaffirming teamwork for border security and defense.

This was conveyed in a speech made shortly after welcoming Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to the Bogor Palace in West Java. Indonesia was the leader’s first destination for a state visit after his inauguration in June, a choice he justified using the two countries’ proximity and shared ancestral roots.

During his remarks, Jokowi said he had pushed for a significant increase in the volume of trade with the Philippines, namely in the export of food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, as well agricultural products derived from coconut and seaweed.

“The trade volume of Indonesia and the Philippines has increased almost by 50 percent compared to last year,” Jokowi noted.

Despite undergoing a trade recession in 2020, the two countries’ dealings have managed to recover, with data from United Nations Comtrade placing their two-way trade at US$9.87 billion in 2021 – a record high since at least 1989.

Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. elaborated that amid a “very volatile time in geopolitics” and post-pandemic economy, bilateral and regional cooperation on trade and infrastructure is of the utmost importance to keep the countries staying afloat.

“Our discussions progressed so rapidly that [Jokowi] and I have agreed to organize task forces to meet and discuss – no longer at the political or the diplomatic level – but at the technical level,” said the Philippine leader.

Popular

PDI-P will likely be part of opposition: Ganjar

Indonesia one step from Olympics after beating South Korea

Bahlil leads task force to boost sugar, bioethanol production in Papua