VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministry has facilitated meetings between Chinese and Indonesian delegations in Jakarta on Friday (June 14), during the Indonesian Business Visit and China International Contractors Association (Chinca).

The activity was attended by 31 businesspersons, who are representatives of Chinca, and leaders from several companies in the fields of energy, transportation, and infrastructure development, machinery manufacturing, as well as financial institutions, most of which came from Beijing and the surrounding areas as well as  large Chinese group of companies and state firms.

Deputy for Infrastructure Coordination Ridwan Djamaluddin noted in a press release in Jakarta, Saturday, that Indonesia was still prioritizing Java. The government is optimistic of realizing equitable infrastructure development across all regions.

"Java still contributes some 80 percent to our GDP (gross domestic product). In Indonesia, we are aware of the need for equitable progress in development, so our efforts currently are directed to driving development in areas outside Java," he remarked.

Since 2017, the Indonesian government has, on the basis of inputs from private and state-owned firms, compiled proposals that are then incorporated into 30 projects in four development corridors, with a value reaching US$91.1 billion.

The North Sumatra corridor focuses on the western economic rights to facilitate the cooperation of ASEAN and its surroundings; the North Kalimantan corridor prioritizes developing energy and minerals; North Sulawesi is focused on growth of the Pacific region in the field of parata and industry; while Bali is prepared for the ASEAN regional innovation center.

Deputy Ridwan also reiterated that the cooperation is mutually beneficial and all nations that will invest in Indonesia must fulfill five criteria and three cooperation systems "Basic Principles of GMF-BRI Cooperation."

"I want to emphasize that we are not only cooperating commercially in the short term but are also opening room in the long term. Outside these four corridors are also non-corridor projects that have been initiated by industry players solely looking for government policy support," he pointed out.

Representative of Chinca Chairperson Xin Xiuming assessed that Indonesia had borne witness to notable economic development, and it was enthusiastic to participate in infrastructure development in the country.

"We encourage the enthusiasm of our members to join in development, and as a Chinese infrastructure contractor organization, we also want to establish sound communication with Indonesia. We believe in our efforts and support from various parties and hope that the infrastructure cooperation between the two countries would run well," he stated.

In the meantime, the Indonesian ambassador to China and Mongolia noted that bilateral relations would further intensify if both countries' businesspersons would realize the program of this bilateral relationship.

The activity is expected to furnish information on cooperation within the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor (RCEC) of the Global Maritime Fulcrum - Belt and Road Initiative (GMF-BRI) between Indonesia and China and to unveil opportunities for investment projects in infrastructure, energy, and public works through direct interaction between Indonesian and Chinese businesspersons.