TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Foreign Ministry said that Indonesia and the United States under President Donald Trump are committed to building a strong partnership.
US Vice President Michael R. Pence’s visit to Indonesia that lasted for two days is a proof of the strong bilateral relationship.
“Today [on April 21, 2017,] the signing of ten memoranda of understanding on cooperation in various fields were witnessed by vice presidents of the two countries,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir said during a press conference at the Foreign Ministry’s office in Central Jakarta on Friday, April 21, 2017.
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Arrmanatha revealed that the memoranda of understanding are worth US$10 billion.
“There is a memorandum of understanding on waste management and energy,” Arrmanatha added. “It reflects the commitment of the two countries in the economic sector."
Pence said that the US and UK Chambers of Commerce and Industry would not only strengthen economic ties with Indonesia but also with a number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
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According to Pence, business cooperation between the two countries would create jobs. The memoranda of understanding cover cooperation between companies of the two countries, such as Applied Materials and state electricity company PLN, Exxon Mobil and state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, Greenbelt Resources and Jababeka, Lockheed Martin and the Indonesian Air Force, and Honeywell and PT Dirgantara Indonesia.
YOHANES PASKALIS | ARKHELAUS WISNU
