Jokowi Outlines 5 Points of Bilateral Meeting with Australian PM

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo revealed five points from the bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. They discussed bilateral trade and investment.

“We are more focused on talking about economic cooperation,” said the Indonesian President at a press conference at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Monday, June 6, 2022.

The first point was about exports of high-added value products to Australia, including automotive products. Indonesia started its first export of completely built-up (CBU) cars to Australia last February.

“I hope that the export access will continue to be open,” he said in front of Albanese.

The second point was about the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or IA-CEPA. Jokowi expected more job opportunities for Indonesians in Australia. “Including the additional quota of the working holiday visa to 5,000 per year,” he said.

Thirdly, Jokowi welcomed cooperation in the education and health sectors such as the opening of the Monash University campus in Bumi Serpong Damai or BSD, Banten, and the construction of 23 hospitals and 650 clinics worth US$1 billion over 20 years in West Java by Australian pharmaceutical firm Aspen Medical.

“This is expected to increase Australian investment for the development of Indonesian resources,” Jokowi remarked.

The fourth point was about strengthening ties in the food processing and innovation, up to the supply chain. The fifth point was about strengthening the bilateral partnership in the energy sector and climate change. 

Jokowi said he welcomed Anthony Albanese’s initiative on the Indonesia-Australia climate resilience and infrastructure partnership with an initial fund of A$200 million or equal to Rp2 trillion if the estimated exchange rate was at Rp10,400 per Australian dollar.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO

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