VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita met Minister-Delegate, Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness, and French Nationals Abroad, Olivier Becht, to discuss the progress of Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA) negotiations, deforestation, carbon, and investment opportunities.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of Kartasasmita's working visits to France and Japan on October 2-6, 2023.

"We conveyed the importance of collaboration in the I-EU CEPA to accelerate the completion of ongoing negotiations so that both parties can immediately benefit from the agreement," he noted in a statement on Thursday.

He remarked that since 2016, negotiations on the I-EU CEPA agreement had been ongoing for 15 rounds. Hence, he is keen to seek the French government's opinions on important points of the agreement, including the resolution of pending issues.

Regarding deforestation, Kartasasmita stated that as a partner, Indonesia seeks recognition in the sustainable practices existing in agricultural supply chains in commodity-producing countries. This is also related to Indonesian export commodities sent to the European Union.

In the last two years, the rate of deforestation in Indonesia has reached its lowest point in history due to various policies implemented by the government, he highlighted.

This figure last year decreased by 75 percent to the lowest level since monitoring began in 1990, he stated.

Hence, Indonesia is keen to continue to work with France to ensure that these efforts remain effective and produce useful results, the minister affirmed.

Kartasasmita also conveyed the first carbon credit trading scheme in Indonesia that was launched by President Joko Widodo last week. This program is included in Indonesia's efforts towards net zero emissions by 2060.

This scheme is designed to be a new, sustainable economic opportunity in line with the world's movement towards an environmentally friendly economy.

"I hope that France can be part of our change towards a more sustainable future," he stated.

Kartasasmita then encouraged France to participate in deepening the industrial structure through investment to fill the industrial structure.

"If France can invest in our industrial structure, the value chain from upstream to downstream industrial processes can strengthen the supply chain and industrial ecosystem in Indonesia," he noted.

He stated that a fulfilled industrial structure from upstream to downstream is an important key to helping Indonesia become a high-economy country in 2045.

This policy also has high added value and is key for Indonesia to become part of the global supply chain, Kartasasmita stated.

Furthermore, the minister highlighted plans for other meetings with French businessmen to establish joint venture cooperation and capacity building that will bring benefits for both parties.

"We will also meet with French automotive companies to work together in developing the electric vehicle (EV) industry," he remarked. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Several ministers from the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet attended a limited meeting on Thursday at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, to discuss the National Strategic Project (PSN).

"(The meeting is to discuss) PSN (National Strategic Project)," Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto stated here on Thursday.

Hartarto remarked that the government will evaluate several existing national strategic projects.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno also made the same statement on arriving at the Presidential Palace.

"(The meeting) was about the National Strategic Project (PSN)," Uno stated.

The minister remarked that the meeting was held to ensure that all national strategic projects could be completed and not stalled.

Apart from Hartarto and Uno, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar was also present at the meeting.

However, Siti, a politician from the NasDem party, entered the Presidential Palace through the State Secretariat Office, unlike Hartarto and Uno, who entered the Presidential Palace through the backdoor of the palace.

In the meantime, a limited meeting to discuss national strategic projects was held amid the possibility of a meeting between Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo, who is concurrently a politician from the NasDem party, and President Joko Widodo at the Palace.

The possibility of the meeting emerged amid allegations of the minister's involvement in a corruption case at the Ministry of Agriculture and after he could not be contacted for several days while in Europe.

Regarding the possibility of Minister Limpo meeting with the president, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung was reluctant to provide information and only said he would attend the limited meeting.

"I just want to hold a limited meeting," he stated. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized that spending on the military armament or defense equipment system must be carried out on the basis of a priority scale.

"There must be a priority scale. Defense equipment is important, but we must see whether other things are more important, like will we go to war or not," Jokowi remarked after leading the ceremony commemorating the 78th Anniversary of the National Defense Forces (TNI) at the National Monument (Monas) Square here on Thursday.

In his statement at the TNI Anniversary ceremony, Jokowi pressed for prudent spending by the state on defense equipment.

He explained that the three branches of the TNI presented in the defile or parade at Monas demonstrated the complete strength of the Indonesian military.

The president affirmed that the quality of the national defense equipment was proven in the military defile presented at this year's TNI Anniversary.

"We can see and judge it by ourselves. Even though it was only a small part, what was presented was complete and showed more or less what our strength is," he remarked.

Jokowi admitted the need for improvements in the military armament system, but in general, the TNI defense equipment is proper.

"There are still many things we need to improve and evaluate, but in general, I think it is good enough," he explained.

He also announced a budget allocation of Rp39.47 trillion for the modernization of defense equipment in 2024. The budget is already included in the Defense Ministry's spending list.

Meanwhile, TNI personnel distributed essential commodity packages to residents present at the 78th TNI Anniversary commemoration event in Monas.

Apart from distributing assistance, the TNI also held several social activities since September 24, such as free cataract surgery, a mass circumcision event, and blood donation. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita assured the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that Indonesia's membership would provide benefits, including expanding the organization's global reach to Southeast Asia.

Minister Kartasasmita conveyed this during his meeting with OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann during a series of working visits to France and Japan on October 2-6.

The meeting was a follow-up to the Indonesian government's efforts to become a new member of this cross-border economic forum.

"We are aware of the role of the OECD as an international organization that aims to create policies and develop international standards to encourage prosperity, equality, opportunity, and prosperity in social, economic, and environmental aspects," he noted in a statement here on Thursday.

Kartasasmita affirmed that Indonesia's membership in the OECD would be highly strategic and provide benefits for both parties.

For Indonesia, its membership in the OECD can accelerate Indonesia's economic transformation in order to achieve national strategic goals. Meanwhile, for the OECD, Indonesia's membership in the organization will provide a wider global reach, especially in the Southeast Asian region.

"We understand that there is an accession process that must be fulfilled by Indonesia to join the OECD. Therefore, we really appreciate your visit to Indonesia in August 2023 to meet the president of the Republic of Indonesia and several fellow ministers to discuss this matter," the minister stated.

As of 2023, the OECD has 38 member countries. The Indonesian government sought support from OECD member countries and the OECD secretary general to support Indonesia's accession to the international organization.

The decision to possibly open the process for Indonesia's accession to become a member will be decided at the OECD Council meeting in December 2023 or January 2024.

"We request a response from the OECD regarding the position of OECD member countries, in general, regarding Indonesia's intentions as well as the progress of Indonesia's accession process," the minister stated.

Kartasasmita said that it was not easy to become an OECD member, like Costa Rica, Colombia, and others, which required an accession process of around three to seven years.

Indonesia is targeting completion of the accession process in less than four years. In order to achieve this target, the Indonesian government has formed a national committee tasked with identifying policy gaps, several sectors, and issues that can be resolved quickly.

"We note that in implementing the accession process, Indonesia must fulfill recommendations and align several national regulations to comply with OECD standards," the minister stated.

"Indonesia has harmonized 15 of the 200 OECD standards. We also ask for suggestions regarding efforts that need to be made by Indonesia, especially in the industrial sector, to speed up the alignment process with OECD instruments," he remarked.

Kartasasmita further stated that Indonesia has made significant progress in various fields, including the development of renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

If the OECD and Indonesia collaborate in fighting climate change, both parties will be able to benefit from knowledge and ideas about the most effective methods for doing so.

Geographically, Indonesia also has an important role in global trade circulation, as it bridges the route between the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. This allows Indonesia to play an important role in the distribution of goods across the world.

Due to the positive impact of this, Indonesia has established itself as an important actor in regional economic interconnection and cooperation.

"With the increasing trade and investment relations as a direct impact of this cooperation, OECD members, who collaborate with Indonesia, can benefit from expanding global reach and trade possibilities as a direct impact of strengthening trade and investment relations," the minister stated. (Antaranews)