Indonesia and the US have committed to reinforce their concrete cooperation, based on mutual respect and mutual benefit during a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Jakarta. (Photo: Reuters) At a press conference following the talks withthe US guest, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi affirmed that the US isa strategic partner of Indonesia.
On December 14, the two countries inked an MoUon the extension of maritime cooperation, which covers, among others,maritime security cooperation, marine resources, conservation, and fisheriesmanagement, as well as maritime safety and navigation.
In order to strengthen theirsecurity cooperation, the two countries also agreed to establish a 2 2 dialoguemechanism between senior officials from their ministries of foreign affairs andministries of defense.
Indonesia and the US alsocommit to increase trade and investment cooperation. Two-way trade fromJanuary to October 2021 reach 29.6 billion USD, or increasing by 33.9 percentfrom the same period in the previous year.
In 2020, US investment inIndonesia reached 749.7 million USD, and from January to September 2021, US investment reached 1.3 billion USD, increasing by 73 percent only within just 9months. Indonesia conveyed its hopes for the US to continue granting GSPfacility. Investment opportunities in Indonesia are wide open, includingin health sectors, digital, as well as energy transitions.
On development cooperation,Indonesia appreciates the US's increased commitment within the framework ofMillennium Challenge Corporation Compact II for sustainable developmentprojects in Indonesia, such as green economic development, digitalization, andaccess to funding, as well as gender equality and financing for women-ownedMSMEs.
Blinken’s visit to Indonesia aims to affirm thestrategic partnership between the two countries and the importance of a freeand open Indo-Pacific region. Earlier, the US Secretary of State met withPresident Joko Widodo on December 13./.
VNA
