People watched President Joko Widodo at a screen outside the Merdeka Palace during the celebration of the 74th Independence Day of Indonesia in Jakarta, Saturday (Aug 17, 2019) (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged the regional heads to help facilitate investors who want to invest their capital in the regions. "The local government should give permission quickly if, for example, private sectors wanted to build a port, an airport, or a road, especially, in export-oriented industries," President Joko Widodo said when opening the National Development Planning Forums (Musrenbang) in Jakarta Monday.

Export-oriented industries can also improve Indonesia's trade balance deficit, according to President Jokowi.

They can also create employment opportunities for the people in the region, thereby increasing economic movements.

President Jokowi also asked local governments to consult with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), if, they could not carry out development.

The regional governments had built infrastructures such as an airport or a port to connect with industrial centers, he explained and added that improvement in the quality of Human Resources (HR) should be carried out in the future.

If the foundation of development in both infrastructure and human resources can be completed, Indonesia's economic competitiveness would increase sharply, President Jokowi believed.

He opened a meeting attended by several ministers as well as regional heads from all regions of Indonesia.

Jokowi also explained various efforts needed to encourage development in the area of human resources, the Omnibus Law, and simplification of regulations.  (ANTARA)

Director General of Plantation at the Agriculture Ministry Kasdi Subagyono (ANTARA)

Indonesia’s government is readying data to face the trial of a lawsuit it filed at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the European Union (EU) next week over the bloc’s restrictions on palm oil-based biodiesel.

Director General of Plantation at the Agriculture Ministry Kasdi Subagyono stated on Monday that the Agriculture Ministry and Trade Ministry had unitedly decided on a strategy to face the trial next week after the Indonesian government, through the Indonesian permanent representative in Geneva, had officially filed the lawsuit at the WTO against the EU on December 9, 2019.

"The Trade Ministry is coordinating (on the strategy) to face the trial. We only prepare technical data related to production. In principle, we are ready for the trial at the WTO next week. We have finalized the preparations," he remarked at a hearing with the House of Representatives’ (DPR’s) Commission IV.

The Indonesian government has filed a lawsuit at the WTO against the EU over Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) and Delegated Regulation EU policies that discriminate against Indonesian palm oil.

The lawsuit mirrors the Indonesian government's resoluteness and commitment to challenging the EU's unfair restrictions and discrimination against palm oil through RED II and Delegated Regulation policies

Through the RED II, the EU will only allow the use of fuels from renewable energy between 2020 and 2030.

The Delegated Regulation that constitutes the implementation regulation of the RED II categorizes palm oil into the group of commodities with Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) of high risk.

Hence, palm oil-based biofuel is not incorporated into the renewable energy target in the EU.

Subagyono is optimistic that Indonesia would win the trial since the EU Commission does not use basic data from the Indonesian government.

The EU Commission on Monday, December 9, 2019, set duties on the import of Indonesian biodiesel fuel, from eight to 18 percent, akin to the provisional tariff proposed by the EU in August 2019.


"We must draft it (the strategy) first to see what we are going to sue and how the mechanism is. I cannot reveal the strategy for biodiesel now," Secretary General of the Trade Ministry Oke Nurwan remarked on the sidelines of a gathering to mark five years of the trade law in Jakarta recently.

The Indonesian government had earlier planned to levy retaliatory tariffs on the import of milk and its derivatives from the EU.

However, the government will be adopting the formal channel route in line with the trade dispute rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Nurwan stated.

The EU is determined to impose anti-subsidy import duty on Indonesian biodiesel over suspected subsidy viewed as being detrimental to the EU’s producers.

The European Commission has forecast that the biodiesel market in the EU would touch €nine billion, or US$10 billion. Indonesia supplies biodiesel worth an estimated €400 million to the EU.

In its press statement released by the European Commission, the EU leveled accusation against Indonesia of selling biodiesel fuels at lower prices. (ANTARA)

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi addressed the 14th Asia-Europe Ministerial Meeting in Madrid, Spain, on Monday (Dec 16, 2019) ANTARA

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi endorsed the promotion of connectivity and multilateralism at the 14th Asia-Europe Ministerial Conference that began in Madrid, Spain, on Monday (Dec 16).

"Asia and Europe must better promote sustainable connectivity," Marsudi noted in a written statement released on Tuesday.

At the plenary meeting of ASEM foreign ministers, Marsudi put the spotlight on the strategic outlook in creating sustainable connectivity, especially in an era replete with uncertainty.

From ASEAN’s experience, the regional grouping's strategic outlook has helped in creating the ASEAN community related to dialog and cooperation values. The values have laid down the foundation for the initiative of the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP), she remarked.

"Asia and Europe must strengthen the strategic outlook that promotes collaboration, inclusive and open economy, and mutually beneficial paradigm," she stated.

At the retreat session, the Indonesian foreign minister reiterated the significance of maintaining cooperation and the principles of multilateralism to tackle a barrage of global issues, including Palestine and sustainable development goals (SDGs), including palm oil that has aided efforts to purge poverty in Indonesia.

During her visit to Madrid, Marsudi also held bilateral talks with foreign ministers of Austria, Bangladesh, China, and Kazakhstan; ASEAN secretary general; and state secretary of the Swedish prime minister.

The ASEM foreign ministers’ meeting themed “Asia and Europe: Together for Effective Multilateralism” discussed an array of issues encompassing multilateralism, gender equality, counterterrorism, maritime security, and cyber security. (ANTARA)

Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan attends a meeting with counterparts in the United Arab Emirates during his working visit to Abu Dhabi, Monday (Dec 16, 2019 (ANTARA)

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan offered Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan an opportunity to invest in Indonesia's hydroelectricity power plant development. During his working visit to Abu Dhabi on Monday, Pandjaitan remarked in a statement received by Antara news agency in Jakarta that hydroelectricity power plants will be developed in the provinces of North Kalimantan and Papua. Apart from offering investment projects, Pandjaitan's working trip to Emirates also aims to prepare for the upcoming state visit of Indonesia's President Joko Widodo to the country in January 2020. During his upcoming state visit, Jokowi is scheduled to ink several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with leaders of UAE in the fields of energy development, health, education, and sovereign wealth fund management. On a similar occasion, both nations will also ink an MoU to support the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) to finance Indonesia's infrastructure projects.(ANTARA)