VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. Indonesia and the European Union published the European Union-Indonesia Cooperation 2020, on Thursday, in Jakarta.

This publication book summarizes efforts to advance sustainable development to mitigate the effects of climate change. This book also highlights the various achievements of development programs in Indonesia that are supported by the European Union and its member countries.

Minister of National Development Planning Suharso Monoarfa highlighted the European Union's support for development in Indonesia. He said the European Union has become a cooperation partner for Indonesia not only before the Covid-19 pandemic occurred but also when the pandemic hits Indonesia.

He hopes that the cooperation of the two parties will continue to be improved so that it can achieve welfare for the community.

The European Union-Indonesia Cooperation 2020 takes on the theme Building Capacity for Green Growth.

EU Ambassador to Indonesia Vincent Piket said the world community must look at post-pandemic development efforts.

He said the social and economic impacts of the pandemic must be addressed through sustainable environmental development because environmental challenges are increasingly being faced by the world.

"Of course, we need to look beyond the current crisis. We need to look beyond, the immediate crisis response and think very hard about the post-COVID-19 recovery, economic recovery, and social recovery. And that brings I think to the theme of this year's cooperation, its building capacity for green growth," Piket said.

"Because in our view, post-COVID-19 recovery has to be a green one, a sustainable one. Because while we battle the COVID-19 pandemic, on one hand, the climate crisis is ever more real and in front of our eyes," he said.

Regarding the economic and social recovery, in particular, the ambassador said the European Union would continue to increase trade and investment cooperation in Indonesia, including through the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CEPA).

Currently, the CEPA negotiations are still ongoing and Piket said based on the research conducted in Indonesia, if the CEPA agreement is successfully agreed upon, Indonesia will have economic resiliency and rapid economic growth. (RRI)