President Jokowi to Strengthen Cooperation with the U.S.
23 October 2015 13:06 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo is scheduled to make an official visit to the United States in order to strengthen cooperation between both countries.
“This visit is to strengthen economic cooperation,” said Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro on Thursday.
Bmbang said after one year of Joko Widodo administration, many people say Indonesia is leaning to China, Japan and Middle Eastern countries. However, Bambang said the US is still one of Indonesia’s important trading partner. “I believe America is still an important partner for us,” he said.
Based on economic data, the US is an important partner in the food sector. The data from the Trade Ministry shows that the US is the main export destination for Indonesia’s frozen shrimp products, followed by Japan, Vietnam and the UK.
Exports of frozen shrimps in 2013 reached US$663.5 million. Over the past five years, exports of frozen shrimps to the US has increased by 25.93 percent.
From January to July 2014, the exports were 65.09 percent, which was a significant increase from US$313.9 million in the same period in the previous year.
In the investment sector, Bambang said the US is in the top 10 of countries with the largest investment. One of the main focuses right now is PT Freeport Indonesia.
ADITYA BUDIMAN
