TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government of South Korea has expressed its interest in cooperating with the Jakarta administration in a variety of projects, among them the construction of the Giant Sea Wall in North Jakarta.

“The South Korean government wishes to continue its cooperation with the Jakarta administration in a number of key areas, including the development of e-government and infrastructure projects, such as the Giant Sea Wall,” said the South Korean ambassador for Indonesia, Cho Tai-young, after a meeting with president-elect Joko Widodo in Jakarta.

Cho is calling for closer ties between the two nations, going as far as naming Indonesia as South Korea’s "priority". “Our government really believes that our relations with Indonesia are crucial. We discussed the potential for increased cooperation in the future, especially between the Jakarta administration and South Korea,” he said.

Existing joint-ventures between Indonesia and South Korea will be maintained—these include the capacity development of regional administrators and the e-government sector.

The Giant Sea Wall is a joint attempt by the central government and the Jakarta administration that aims at creating a massive dam to help control floods in Jakarta. The Minister of Public Works Djoko Kirmanto has agreed to expedite the process, but the construction has yet to kick off as the question of funding remains unanswered.

EDITOR: Jafar M Sidiq