TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Indonesia, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo held a limited meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said that one of the topics discussed in the meeting was economic cooperation in relation to Prime Minister Abe's plan to bring a number of Japanese CEOs to Indonesia.
"The visit will be quite huge, with 30 CEOs of Japanese companies," Retno said at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, January 11, 2017.
Retno added that the meeting with the Japanese CEOs would be held separately from the talks between President Jokowi and PM Abe.
In response to a question related to the value of cooperation between Indonesia and Japan, Retno said that she could not confirm it yet. However, she predicted that the value would be huge since Japan is the second largest investor in Indonesia in 2016, with a total investment value of US$4.5 billion recorded in September 2016.
Based on Tempo's records, at least there are three megaprojects involving Japan, namely the Masela Block development, the Patimban Port development, and the medium-speed Jakarta-Surabaya train project.
The investment value of the Patimban Port project was predicted to reach Rp 40 trillion (US$3 billion). Indonesia’s ownership of the project would account for 51 percent. The development and operation of the port will involve Japanese companies, such as Astra and Mitsubishi.
"We have made preparations and exercises related to economic cooperation between Indonesia and Japan. Therefore, during the meeting, mutual cooperation will be realized," Retno explained.
ISTMAN MP