VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Philippines have been established since 70 years ago. During this period, Indonesia and the Philippines have established close cooperation in maintaining regional stability and peace and establishing increasingly close and broad cooperation. In the trade sector, the value of Indonesia's trade in the Philippines in 2018 increased by 4 percent. This was conveyed by the Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Yohana Yembise, in her speech representing the Indonesian government at the 121st Philippine Independence Day reception and the Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of Indonesia-Philippines Relations in Jakarta, Wednesday (18/06).

“I’m proud to share that in 2018 alone, we have enjoyed 4 percent increase in our bilateral trade value. In 2018, compared to the initial year a total of 7.78 billion US dollars. Tourism and investement cooperation have been also growing rapidly. And I am confident that this cooperation will never cease to grow in the coming years,” said Yohana.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong T. Wee said Indonesia for the Philippines was more than a neighboring country. After the tsunami in Aceh in 2014, the Philippines was the first country to send humanitarian aid to Indonesia. Vice versa, when a typhoon struck the Philippines in 2013, Indonesia provided assistance for the rehabilitation in Marawi in the Southern Philippines. According to Leehiong T. Wee this shows the closeness between the two countries. (VOI / AHM)