The governments of Indonesia and Morocco have signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in the industry, maritime and fisheries sectors, for counter-terrorism measures and exchange of financial intelligence data on money laundering and terror funding.

The signing was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Pancasila Building in Jakarta, Monday, after the bilateral meeting between Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her Moroccan counterpart Maroko Nasser Bourita.

It was witnessed by representatives of the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries, National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT), and the Center for Reporting and Analysis of Financial Transactions, among others.

Minister Bourita's visit to Indonesia was the first official visit of a foreign minister since the announcement of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet on October 24.

"Morocco is a long-time friend and important partner for Indonesia from the Northern Africa region," Marsudi said.

In the meeting with Bourita, she conveyed the importance of immediately initiating a preferential trade agreement (PTA) negotiation. The agreement would allow for the removal of trade tariff barriers between Indonesia and Morocco.

Marsudi also expressed Indonesia's keen interest in expanding the market for seeded manufacturing products, believed to have tremendous potential in the Moroccan market, including textile, rubber, shoes, electronic products, home fittings and furniture.

"I also offered Indonesia's readiness to supply palm oil, tea, and coffee for domestic needs in Morocco," she said.

She also introduced Bourita to the Indonesian halal industry, which also had the potential for cooperation. In 2017, the value of Indonesia's halal industry reached US$2.1 trillion and is estimated to reach $3 trillion in 2023.

"I specifically invited Morocco to participate in the Halal Summit in Indonesia in November 2020," she said.

Both foreign ministers also discussed cooperation in the fields of vaccines and pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and transportation development by Indonesian state-owned companies in Morocco, as well as the joint venture between fertilizer companies for phosphate investment.

Aside from bilateral matters, Marsudi and Bourita discussed several regional and global issues, including the situation in the Middle East.

"I would like to emphasize that Indonesia wants the Middle East to be a peaceful, stable and prosperous region. There will be no world peace if there is no peace in the Middle East," Marsudi said.

For the Western Sahara issue, Indonesia encouraged all parties to participate in dialogues and support the UN-initiated process for a peaceful solution.

In terms of the issue in Palestine, Indonesia once again underlined the importance of implementing a two-state solution to create sustainable peace.

"As two Muslim countries, we are committed to promoting the face of Islam that is moderate, tolerant, and rahmatan lil alamin (a blessing for all creations)," she stated. (ANTARA)

The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) of the Republic of Indonesia and the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in combating terrorism.  The cooperation will include a program of prevention and repression of terrorism that can be carried out by the two countries, including in dealing with the problem of foreign terrorist fighters (FTF), According to the Head of BNPT, Suhardi Alius.

"We know that they have quite a lot of problems related to radicalism and terrorism. In fact they have around 700 FTFs in Syria, while we have more than 500 (FTF)," Suhardi Alius said after signing the MoU with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita at the Pancasila Building, in Jakarta, Monday.

BNPT in collaboration, with relevant ministries and institutions, will follow up on this cooperation through the exchange of information and programs with Moroccan authorities.

In addition to the BNPT, the Moroccan government also signed an MoU to exchange financial intelligence information related to money laundering and terror financing, with the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).

Each country has advantages in programs of combating terrorism, according to Suhardi.

Besides, the two countries will also exchange views in dealing with issues related to radicalism and terrorism which until now have not been resolved, for example in the case of the FTFs in Syria.

As with Indonesia, Morocco too has not taken a political decision on dealing with its citizens who became foreign terrorist fighters (FTF) in Syria, he noted.

"There are similarities. Until now, there has been no political decision in Morocco on how to handle FTFs," Suhardi Alius said.

According to data released by the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC), until September 2017, some 574 Indonesian citizens (WNI) joined ISIS-affiliated groups.

At least 97 of them were declared dead, 66 were stopped when they were about to leave Indonesia, and more than 500 were deported.

On the other hand, data compiled by the International Center for Counter Terrorism (ICCT), the then National Police Chief Tito Karnavian revealed that in May 2018 there were around 500 Indonesian citizens were still in Syria and Iraq, 500 had returned to the country, and around 103 people were estimated to have died from the confrontation in the region.

Until now, the Government of Indonesia, represented by the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Law and Security Affairs, has not yet decided what policies to undertake with ISIS sympathizers and FTFs.

The government still considers three aspects, such as humanity, security and law enforcement. (ANTARA)

PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN) is ready to start battery electric vehicle (BEV) production at its factory located in Karawang, West Java, though its type had yet to be made public.

"It is a global trend. If we do not join it, we will not be able to export," Warih Andang Tjahjono, the TMMIN president director, stated on Monday on the sidelines of the Tokyo Motor Show held in Odaiba, Japan, on Oct 24-Nov 4, 2019.

A change in the production line is required, based on several component changes, particularly for the powertrain.

"Some 60 percent must be changed, especially since its battery, powertrain also changes," he explained.

TMMIN Director of Administration, Corporation, and External Relations Bob Azam noted that his company will train its workers for the production of electric vehicles.

"Hence, special skills will be involved to produce electric vehicles since it is different from ICE (internal combustion engine) cars," he stated.

TMMIN will support the government's target for the share of electric vehicle output to reach 20 percent of Indonesia's total car production by 2025.

"We will participate in it," Bob Azam remarked without furnishing in detail the number.

Until now, Toyota Indonesia is attempting to produce hybrid vehicles in Indonesia, as a bridge for the production of full battery electric vehicles.

Hybrid vehicle is perceived as being better aligned toward the production of electric vehicles since its engine uses both battery and gasoline.

In the meantime, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated in Aug this year that he had signed the long-awaited presidential regulation (Perpres) on electric vehicles. "We know that batteries constitute 60 percent of the key to producing electric cars, and we have the components to make them, (such as) cobalt and manganese, in our country," Jokowi said as quoted in a press statement fromsetkab.go.id. (ANTARA)

The construction of Youtefa Bridge is part of President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi’s) commitment to expediting infrastructure development in Papua Province, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Wempi Wetipo stated.

Hence, Wetipo urged the people at large, especially those residing in Jayapura, the capital city of Papua, to care for this long bridge in the province, he told journalists while observing this bridge scheduled for inauguration in Jayapura, Papua, on Monday.

"Please take care of this bridge. Do not vandalize it again. This is evidence of a president's commitment to us," he noted, adding that President Jokowi truly cared for the rapid development of infrastructure facilities in Papua.

President Jokowi always demonstrated full commitment to developing Papua. Hence, the people of Papua should laud him by maintaining and caring for facilities, including the bridge, that his administration has built, he stated.

Wetipo noted that President Jokowi's focus on Papua was also apparent from the fact that he and other native Papuans were appointed as his cabinet members.

Some Rp943.6 billion was spent to construct this 732-meter-long Youtefa Bridge.

A consortium of state construction companies -- PT PP, PT Hutama Karya, and PT Nindya Karya -- constructed the bridge over Youtefa Bay to link Jayapura and Muara Tami District in Papua and Skouw District of the neighboring country Papua New Guinea.

In April 2018, President Jokowi had reviewed the progress in its construction during which he was optimistic that the long bridge would give rise to new economic centers in Jayapura and the nearby areas.

The project, the construction for which began in 2015, is already 80 percent complete. It will cut short the time required to reach Skouw border from Jayapura, from 2.5 hours to 60 minutes.

Papua and West Papua have come under the radar of both the Indonesian and foreign media after a spate of violence broke out in several parts of these two Indonesian provinces in August and September 2019.  (ANTARA)