TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) has asked the Chinese government and businessmen to prioritize the employment for Indonesian workers. "Prioritize Indonesian workers and add the value for the industries," said JK during a dinner with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang at Shangri-la Hotel, Jakarta, on Monday, May 7.
JK conveyed some hope the increase of Chinese investment in industrial, manufacturing, and energy sector could be environmentally friendly, prioritize local workers, add value to upstream and downstream industries, protect the environment, ensure product quality, and have excellent service as well as technology experts.
In trade affairs, JK demanded an increase in the two-way trade while maintaining the trade balance. Indonesia, he added, hoped the increase of Chinese imports to Indonesia's flagship products, such as biodiesel, coffee, tropical fruit, footwear, and jewelry products.
In addition, JK also expected there will be an increase in the promotion of Indonesian products in the leading Chinese e-commerce portal. "Those things could reduce Indonesia's trade deficit to China which in 2017 reached up to US$ 12.7 billion," he said.
In tourism sector, JK expected an increase in the number of direct flights between both countries at 3 million tourists by 2018, 4 million tourists by 2019 and 5 million tourists by 2020.
As in the economy sector, aside from the increase in the investment, JK pinned hope China's contribution to industrial investment in Indonesia such as the software, hardware, and human resources. "I see that the prospect of Indonesia-China partnership is promising, both in terms of quality and quantity," he said.
FRISKI RIANA
