VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Governments of Indonesia and Singapore agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in an effort to increase competitiveness and development of industrial sector, beginning from increasing the investment till the implementation of vocational education programs. This is believed to encourage economic growth in both countries.

Indonesian Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, after meeting Singaporean Minister of Trade and Industry, Chan Chun Sing at the Ministry of Industry, Jakarta on Tuesday (Jan28). as reported by Antara News Agency, said that the two countries had cooperated to encourage the application of 4.0 industry. This was stated at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Industrial Research and Development Agency, the Indonesian Ministry of Industry and Enterprise Singapore, at the Indonesia-Singapore Leaders Retreat event at the IMF Annual Meeting session in Bali, October 2018. 

In addition, the two countries have established cooperation aimed at increasing industrial human resources, especially in Indonesia, through vocational education programs. Since 2018, training has been conducted for 100 participants consisting of school principals, deputy principals and teachers in Indonesia. This year there will be the implementation of training of 4.0 industry for 120 participants, including management staffs and industrial polytechnic teachers.

During the first semester of 2019, Singapore remained one of biggest investors in Indonesia, with an investment of US$3.4 billion. Next cooperation opportunities include exploring the development of integrated industrial estates such as the Kendal Industrial Estate, and also in other areas of Indonesia outside Java, such as Tanah Kuning in North Kalimantan, Kuala Tanjung in North Sumatra, Bitung in North Sulawesi, Batanjung in Central Kalimantan, Palu in Central Sulawesi and Jambi. Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita also conveyed to the Singaporean Minister of Trade and Industry, to look for the country's investors who are interested to invest in the sectors.

Minister Agus Gumiwang added, his Ministry invited Singapore to participate in building maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of industrial area of the Bintan Islands at the location that had been prepared. In addition, the Minister also encouraged the acceleration of cooperation in logistics to build a network in ASEAN that will be centered in Batam. To support ASEAN economic activities in particular, Indonesia and Singapore agreed to prioritize digital economic development as well as food innovation and safety.