VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

To increase national investment, President Joko Widodo asked all cabinet officials to expand the export market to non-traditional countries. The request was affirmed by President Joko Widodo in a limited meeting on the topic ‘Enhancing cooperation between Indonesia and South Pacific Region countries’ at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Friday (4/5). President Joko Widodo wants Indonesia to strengthen its trade relations with countries in the South Pacific Ocean region. This is one of the efforts to open the export market of Indonesian products. He views that Indonesia is in a very strategic position. This should be able to be utilized to improve diplomatic and economic relations with other countries, especially those close to Indonesia. The President also reminded that Indonesia lies at a very strategic location between two continents and two oceans, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. This condition should shape the direction of Indonesia's foreign policy and economy and be used for the national interest. Especially for countries in the Indian Ocean region, President Joko Widodo has formed a cooperation forum called ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association’ -IORA. But for the Pacific Ocean region, especially the South Pacific, there needs to be initiation to improve cooperation in the region. He is convinced that countries in the South Pacific region such as Nauru, Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Island, Samoa, and Tonga are open to cooperating with Indonesia in various fields, such as inter-community, culture, education of scholarship assistance, investment and trade. The leading products of Indonesian manufacturing industry which are ready to be offered include fishery products and services. Trade relations with Western Pacific countries could be the acceleration corridor of eastern Indonesia. The key is to strengthen connectivity, both cultural and economic connectivity. In addition, there must be smooth connectivity of Indonesia's transport system with countries in the South Pacific Region.