UK Ambassador: Indonesia and UK Will Continue to Work Together

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The dramatic outcome of the EU referendum last Thursday with 51.9 percent of British citizens voted for the country to leave has prompted questions of the impact on the country’s relationship with Indonesia. The UK Ambassador to Indonesia, Moazzam Malik, reassures that despite the result, Britain will continue to maintain its diplomatic ties outside the European Union institution.

“The trade relations between the UK and Indonesia have been growing over the last year. The UK is Indonesia’s fifth largest investor,” he said during a press briefing at the British Embassy in Jakarta on Saturday, June 25. Trade volume between both countries grew by five percent last year. “I see no reason why we should go backwards,” he added.

As one of the members of G20, Malik said that Indonesia would become top ten biggest economy in the next 15 years and the UK would continue to support the country in its journey. Nevertheless, he asserted that both the UK and the EU will have to work out the negotiation of CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) with Indonesia within the next few weeks.

Chris Kanter, the deputy chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (Kadin), said that the Brexit result would likely affect the free trade agreement between Indonesia and the EU. Early stage of negotiation has started and both parties aim for its completion within the next one to two years. Chris, however, is less hopeful. “Maybe in four to five years, it can be done,” he said.

Nevertheless, Malik said that the separation of UK and the EU would take time and process. As David Cameron has announced that he will resign as the prime minister, the new government will have to stabilize the political situation in October and begin the formal process of negotiating with the EU. “The negotiating process and implementation will take some years. Nothing will change dramatically overnight,” he said.

AMANDA SIDDHARTA