TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and the First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo arrived in Indonesia on Sunday evening, February 26, after a two-day visit to Australia.
Presidential secretariat spokesman Bey Machmudin said that the state visit and meetings have resulted in concrete results which include cooperation agreements in the fields of economy, politics, legal and security and improved people to people relations.
Read: Australian Firms to Invest US$5bn in Indonesia
In the field of economy, President Jokowi and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull have agreed to conclude the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) by late 2017.
Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said that Indonesia has gained access to herbicide and pesticide market. Australia’s imports of the two commodities are worth US$1.3-1.5billion.
“[At present], Indonesia can only import US$50 million due to tariff barriers,” Enggartiasto said.
The Indonesian government will adopt the same import duty set by ASEAN on sugar from Australia. “Indonesia will only shift [the source of import]. We will still import [sugar] but now some may be imported from Thailand, some may also be imported from Australia,” Enggartiasto said.
On relaxed regulations on cattle, the government has set new a maximum weight of cattle of 440 kilograms from 350 kilograms. As such, cattle price will reduce by 1 US dollar per kilogram.
As for paper exports to Australia, Foreign Minister Retno believes that Indonesia will not face any difficulty since it is the first Asian country to obtain a license under the Forest Law Enforcement Governance license and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT VPA).
In the field of politics, law, and security, the two countries have stepped up cooperation, such is in tackling transnational crimes and terrorism.
Read: Jokowi Australia PM Agree to Continue Military Cooperation
In investment, the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Thomas Lembong said that Australian firms will invest Rp39 trillion in the next 3-5 years.
Australian investments in Indonesia will cover a wide range of sectors, such as mining, marine tourism, infrastructure, water facilities and digital economy.
To improve people to people relations, President Jokowi has launched 3 language centers in Perth, Melbourne, and Canberra. “The language centers are established to internationalize the Indonesian language,” Retno said.
Australia currently hosts 20,000 Indonesian students while Indonesia is a favorite destination for Australian students in a program called New Colombo Plan.
ANTARA
