UK Deputy Prime Minister after attending a meeting in Downing Street -
The UK Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden MP will visit Indonesia on 25-26 June 2023 and will be meeting with Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan to discuss potential collaborations on economic security, critical minerals and progress of the UK-Indonesia Investment Cooperation MoU signed last year. He will also meet with ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Michael Tene to highlight UK support for Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and to discuss how the UK will deliver on its commitments under the ASEAN Dialogue Partner agreement.
Mr Dowden will also be meeting with the Head of National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) Lieutenant General (ret.) Hinsa Siburian to follow up on the recent UK - Indonesia Cyber Security Dialogue that took place in London in March 2023, sign an MoU on UK-Indonesia Cyber Security Cooperation, and launch a UK-funded cyber capacity building programme for Indonesia.
“There is a huge amount of potential to strengthen the UK’s relationship with Indonesia, as the largest economy in South East Asia. Our mutual trade and investment already increased by almost a third last year and as Indonesia Chairs ASEAN this year, we will support a free and open Indo-Pacific as a new ASEAN Dialogue Partner" UK Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden MP said.
According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Saturday, issues like access to critical minerals, free trade and cyber security affect all of the prosperity in an interconnected world.
The Deputy Prime Minister is look forward to meeting Indonesian Ministers in these areas and building on March’s UK-Indonesia Cyber Dialogue here in London, with even deeper cooperation between the cyber security experts and the BSSN.
Meanwhile British Charge d’Affaires Matthew Downing explain that the visit by UK Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden reaffirms the UK’s commitment to further the collaborations with Indonesia and ASEAN. As ASEAN Chair this year, Indonesia plays an important role in driving the bloc’s ambitions as a fast growing, inclusive, sustainable and economic region.
"The Indo-Pacific is an increasingly important region and we want to deepen our relationships here, including by bolstering cyber security cooperation with Indonesia. In the last few years, the UK has worked with the Indonesian government to improve cybersecurity regulations for the banking sector; secure the vital telemedicine sector; and deliver information security through exercises and training. I hope this visit will further strengthen our work on cyber security”, Matthew Downing added.
“As ASEAN’s newest Dialogue Partner, the UK is committed to deepening our longstanding relationship and delivering a comprehensive ASEAN-UK Plan of Action, which includes upholding ASEAN centrality and strengthening cooperation in addressing regional and global challenges", UK Ambassador to ASEAN Sarah Tiffin said.
The visit by UK Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden is a clear demonstration of the UK’s long term commitment to ASEAN and our ambition to contribute to peace, prosperity and development in the region”//VOI