The Indonesian  government is looking for an investment of nearly Rp89.6 trillion in stages in the three special economic zones (SEZs) established through government regulations (PP). "We will evaluate the target every year," Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono said in Jakarta, Monday, after submitting a copy of the PP to the relevant regional government and business entities proposing three SEZs, namely Singhasari in East Java, Kendal in Central Java and Likupang in North Sulawesi.

The evaluation was conducted through the National Council of Special Economic Zones covering the achievement targets and the development process, he said.

The development of the three new SEZs by 2024-2025 will absorb tens of thousands of workers and is expected to drive the regional economy and society, Susiwijono explained.

The investment target in the Singhasari Special Economic Zone reached Rp12.5 trillion by employing 6,863 people with businesses such as tourism and the digital economy being rolled out, he revealed.

The special economic zone is expected to become a center for digital economic development by cooperating with several multinational technology companies such as Amazon, IBM, Apple, and Google. The operator of the special economic zone will work with several leading universities in the world.

Meanwhile, the Likupang Special Economic Zone has a gradual investment target of around Rp7.1 trillion, which is engaged in the tourism sector, and can attract around 400 thousand tourists, he said.

The Likupang Special Economic Zone would absorb around 65 thousand workers both directly and indirectly, he estimated.

The Kendal Special Economic Zone has a gradual investment target of around Rp70 trillion with estimated employment of 20 thousand people.

The government targeted the Kendal Special Economic Zone to realize the value of exports in the first year or 2021 of at least US$500 million and import substitution of at least $250 million, he said.

To date, the government has established 15 special economic zones consisting of nine for industry and six for tourism.

Of the 15, 11 of which have operated or have served investors.

The total investment commitment reached Rp88.7 trillion until 2019 from the 11 special economic zones that had been operated with a workforce absorption of around 8,686 people, Susiwijono said.

President Joko Widodo had previously approved the establishment of three new special economic zones through Government Regulation (PP) No. 68 of 2019 for the Singhasari special economic zones in Malang Regency, East Java).

Then there was PP Number 85 Year 2019 for the Kendal special economic zones in Central Java, and PP Number 84 Year 2019 for Likupang special economic zones in North Minahasa District, North Sulawesi. (ANTARA)

Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in Jakarta on Monday was unequivocal in his declaration that Indonesia will not negotiate with any party over its sovereignty, particularly regarding the country's territory in the Natuna waters in Riau Islands.

"There is no negotiation regarding matters pertaining to sovereignty and our territory," the president remarked at the opening of a cabinet session at the State Palace.

Jokowi made the statement in connection with the spike in tensions between Indonesia and China in the past few days over Chinese fishing vessels trespassing into Indonesia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Natuna waters.

The fishing vessels were escorted by the Chinese Coast Guard in the waters some 130 miles off Ranai waters, Natuna.

The Indonesian Navy has deployed eight warships to patrol and secure the waters.

President Jokowi also lauded all his aides' statement on the issue that mirrored Indonesia's steadfastness in defending its sovereignty.

Earlier on Sunday, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD emphasized that Indonesia will defend its sovereignty and not negotiate with China in connection with the issue of Natuna waters.

Drawing reference to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he pointed out that the waters near Natuna Islands have been acknowledged as Indonesia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and territorial waters, thereby annulling the need to bilaterally negotiate this matter.

Indonesian naval ships have already been prepared to secure the country's sovereignty, though Mahfud noted that the measures adopted were not intended to engage in a war with China.

In connection with the recent violations of Chinese coast guard vessels in the Indonesian EEZ near the Natuna waters, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry has lodged a diplomatic protest by summoning China's ambassador in Jakarta.

The Chinese Government unilaterally claims the Natuna waters as its own by declaring a Nine Dash Line. Indonesia has never recognized this claim of China.

The Nine Dash Line is made by China based on its historical maritime rights. Consequently, China claims that the South China Sea region, extending some two million kilometers from the land of China to hundreds of kilometers from the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam, belongs to it. (ANTARA)

BERLIN - German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said that he offered top EU diplomat Josep Borrell to convene an EU foreign ministers' meeting later in the week to agree on a "common line of conduct" in light of growing US-Iran tensions.

"Against the backdrop of the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, the European Union has an important role to play. As Europeans, we support tested and stable channels of dialogue, of which we must make full use in this situation. Therefore, I suggested that Josep Borrell hold a meeting of [EU] foreign ministers this week to promptly agree on a common line of conduct," Maas said in a statement, published by his ministry on Sunday.

According to the minister, the Primary interest now is the stability and Unity of Iraq, whose soil has become a battleground for the US-Iran conflict. Iraq, he went on, should not "fall victim to the recent escalation."

"After the resolution of the Iraqi parliament [on expulsion of foreign troops], we will hold talks with the Iraqi government to clarify how they will build future relations. We will respect any decision," he added.

Maas also stated that Germany, along with its allies, had helped Iraq in the fight against the Islamic State terror group (ISIS, banned in Russia), which "is not over yet.

"We are ready to continue providing assistance if it is needed and the situation allows for it. To discuss this with international partners, a meeting of the anti-ISIS coalition should be held as soon as possible," the minister said.

The US-Iranian tensions took a new turn after a US drone attack killed Qaseem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s's elite Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi Muhandis, a senior member of Iraq's Iranian-backed Shia Popular Mobilization Forces, in Baghdad on Friday. The two were blamed by Washington for organizing violent demonstrations near the US Embassy in Iraq on December 31.

The killing prompted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to warn that Tehran will take revenge for what it views to be a heinous crime. Baghdad has condemned the attack as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, with the national parliament voting to expel foreign troops from the country.

US President Donald Trump, in turn, threatened Iraq with "sanctions like they've never seen before ever," saying US troops will not leave the country unless America is paid back for its "very extraordinarily expensive airbase" located there.

As for Iran’s threats, Trump said that the United States had identified 52 targets, including those important for the Iranian culture, that would be struck should Tehran attack American individuals or assets. (Sputnik)

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the United States’ recent military activities in the Middle East were leading to the further increase of tensions in the region and called on Washington to refrain from abusing its military power.

On Friday, a US drone strike killed Iranian Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. 

"The US’ recent military activities have breached the fundamental principles of international relations and caused an escalation of tensions and destabilisation in the region … We strongly urge the US not to abuse its military force and urge all parties to show restraint in order to prevent the further escalation of the situation and to return to dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible," the ministry's spokesman, Geng Shuang said at a briefing.

The attack was authorised by POTUS who described it as a preemptive and defensive strike, while Iranian President Hassan Rouhani vowed that Tehran will take revenge for what it views as a terrorist action.

Commenting on Iran's threats, US President Donald Trump said that the US would conduct a “fast and hard” series of strikes if Tehran launches retaliatory attacks. (Sputnik)