Indonesia Seeks Japan's Support for Southeast Asia Energy Transition

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Monday sought Japan's support for the acceleration of energy transition in the Southeast Asian region.

He expressed his hope for securing Japan's support during a business meeting attended by at least 78 CEOs of big companies in Japan, which was organized as part of the Commemorative Summit of the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, December 18, 2023.

According to an official statement received, the meeting was held in a working lunch format and was chaired by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"In his speech, the President raised three cooperation focuses going forward, including support for energy transition acceleration in the form of easing access to innovative financing and technology transfer," Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, who accompanied President Widodo, said at an online press conference after the meeting.

In addition, Widodo encouraged the strengthening of the supply chain to support the development of ASEAN as a global hub for the electric vehicle industry.

He also called for regional economic integration through the optimization of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership, as well as the continuation of Japan's concrete projects in the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum.

"The role of Japanese businesses through their quality investment is very strategic to support development in the Southeast Asian region," Marsudi said.

After the business meeting, President Widodo and other ASEAN leaders made a joint courtesy visit to the Emperor of Japan, Naruhito.

"The Indonesian President believes that support from the Emperor of Japan will strengthen ASEAN-Japan partnership as trusted partners in realizing a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region," Marsudi said.

President Widodo's last agenda in Tokyo was receiving a courtesy visit from the chairperson of the Japan-Indonesia Association (Japinda) and former prime minister of Japan, Fukuda Yasuo.

During the meeting, Widodo expressed the hope that Japinda would support an increase in investment and technology transfer from Japan and continue to prioritize cooperation in developing the quality of human resources.

According to Marsudi, the President also said he hoped that Japanese business players would utilize various new agreements forged under the Indonesian-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA) framework.

"Among other things, there are the elimination of tariffs for Indonesian processed fish products, expansion of banking access, and cooperation through the New MIDEC (Manufacturing Development Industrial Center), which supports Indonesian industry to become a regional production base," she said.

After three days of activities, President Widodo was scheduled to fly back home from Tokyo on Monday night.

ANTARA

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