TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi, on Monday, January 9, 2023, held his first meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Anwar Ibrahim, also the chairman of the People's Justice Party (PKR), after officially becoming PM at the end of November 2022. The meeting takes place at 10:00 AM local time in the Bogor Palace, West Java.

"I hope that this visit will be able to further strengthen the relations between the two countries as well as explore opportunities for new collaborations and continue the conversation with President Joko Widodo, God wills it (Inshallah)," said Anwar Ibrahim on Twitter on Sunday, January 8, 2023.

Anwar arrived in Indonesia on Sunday, 8 January 2023. He was accompanied by the Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zambry Abdul Kadir, the Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry, Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, as well as several officials from related ministries and institutions.

Based on a written statement from the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Putrajaya, the Malaysian PM is scheduled to have a face-to-face meeting with the Indonesian President on Monday, January 9, 2023.

The two heads of state/government in the meeting which is planned to be held at the Bogor Palace, would discuss the progress of bilateral cooperation, explore potential new collaborations, and promote joint efforts to overcome regional and global challenges.

Several important issues that are being discussed are economic cooperation, including potential investment from Malaysia for the planned Capital City of Nusantara (IKN), demarcation of land and sea border, as well as employment and protection of Indonesian migrant workers.

The two leaders, according to the statement, would also exchange views on several regional and global issues, particularly regarding the situation in Myanmar and joint efforts to overcome discrimination against palm oil, of which Malaysia and Indonesia are the world's largest exporters.

Submission of 11 Letters of Interest

Anwar Ibrahim and Jokowi would also witness the submission of 11 Letters of Interest (LoL) from Malaysian companies to participate in the development of the planned capital city IKN. This letter is to be given by the Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry to the Head of the Nusantara Capital Authority, Bambang Susantono.

In addition, a total of eight Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) between the Malaysian and Indonesian private sectors are estimated to be worth RM1.16 billion or around Rp4.11 trillion to be signed on the sideline of the visit.

In 2021, Indonesia was Malaysia's 7th largest global trading partner and 3rd in ASEAN with a trade value of RM 95.31 billion or around Rp337.806 trillion.

For the January-November 2022 period, Indonesia is Malaysia's 6th largest trading partner globally, and the 2nd largest trading partner in ASEAN with total trade increasing by 41.7 percent valued at RM120.26 billion or around Rp427,442 trillion.

After meeting with Anwar, Jokowi would travel to Banyuwangi, East Java. "To attend the Nusantara Islamic tradition festival," the deputy of protocol, press, and media of the presidential secretary, Bey Machmudin, told reporters.

The festival is part of the anniversary of the founding of Nahdlatul Ulama. On January 2, the general chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), Yahya Cholil Staquf, and a number of the organization's leaders met Jokowi at the State Palace, Jakarta. PBNU invited Jokowi to attend a series of activities commemorating the centennial Anniversary of Nahdlatul Ulama.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO | IMAJI LASAHIDO (INTERN)

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