VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno LP Marsudi met her Japanese counterpart, Motegi Toshimitsu in  Jakarta, Friday (10/1). The meeting resulted in strengthening cooperation in several strategic sectors; one of which is economic cooperation in the outer islands of Indonesia, including Natuna. The two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of integrated marine and fisheries center development.

Previously, Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu had met President Joko Widodo at the State Palace in Jakarta. On that occasion, President Joko Widodo asked for Japan to invest in Natuna, Riau Islands. He also expressed his appreciation for Japan's cooperation in building the first phase of the Center for Marine and Fisheries in Indonesia. President Joko Widodo hopes that Japan can follow up the proposal to provide funding for the second phase of the Natuna Center  development since Japan is one of Indonesia's main partners.

After a meeting with Minister Toshimitsu, Minister Retno Marsudi explained that Japan is committed to expanding investment in Indonesia . The country  also supports  Indonesia's industrial modernization and its  desire to become a hub of re-exports of Japanese manufacturing products in the region. In addition to cooperation on Natuna and the outer islands, they agreed to establish a dialogue mechanism at the level of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in a bid to discuss strengthening strategic sector cooperation. According to Minister Retno Marsudi, both sides also agreed to strengthen the trilateral cooperation among  Indonesia, Japan and Timor Leste.

Meanwhile, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu expressed his country's readiness to support the Government of Indonesia's priority programs to realize superior human resources. Japan is ready to provide support for the development of vocational training and Japanese language training, including for the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) and Indonesian skilled workers who will be sent to Japan.

In addition to meeting with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu also met Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to further discuss Japan's investment plans for Indonesia. According to Minister  Luhut, Japan plans to invest its capital in Natuna in the fisheries and tourism sector and to strengthen the Sea Security Agency. He  also revealed  that besides Japan,  the United States  would also  invest in Natuna through the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) or the American Development Bank.