VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian President Joko Widodo paid a working visit to Australia and Papua New Guinea from 3-6 July 2023. During his two-day visit to Australia, President Joko Widodo held a series of meetings. The main meeting is to attend the Annual Leaders Meeting on 4 July 2023.

In a joint statement held after the meeting, President Joko Widodo expressed his gratitude for the commitments that resulted in positive developments in relations between the two countries. Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Australia and Indonesia continued to choose to be closer as economic partners, as security partners, and as partners in the global transition towards net zero.

President Joko Widodo conveyed several priorities that Australia and Indonesia have to do in the future. The first priority is more substantive and strategic economic cooperation through the joint development of EV (electric vehicle) battery production. The second is the strengthening of the Indonesia - Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The third is related to reducing carbon emissions, and the fourth is related to the development of the Archipelago Capital City.

Prime Minister Albanese expressed his pleasure that a number of commercial deals in the healthcare, mining and digital sectors had been concluded. Prime Minister Albanese also conveyed the realization of the Indonesia-Australia Climate and Infrastructure Partnership program worth 200 million Australian dollars.

He announced that the first tranche of the funding, amounting to $50 million Australian dollar, will be used to invest in startups and small to medium enterprises focused on co-benefits from Indonesia's clean energy technology and energy transition sector.

In addition, the two leaders also welcomed Australian Export Capital's plan to establish a USD 200 million (nearly IDR 3 trillion) capital financing facility with PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) to support Indonesia's energy transition.

Meanwhile regarding regional and global issues, the two Leaders also put forward concrete cooperation to make the Indo Pacific a peaceful and stable region.

The positive results illustrate the optimism of the two leaders for the stronger relations between Indonesia and Australia. The friendly and warm atmosphere shown by President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Albanese also symbolizes the harmonious relationship and the strength of understanding between the two countries.

It is hoped that President Joko Widodo's working visit to Australia will strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries which are more solid for the progress of the two countries, the region and the world.