JAKARTA (TheInsiderStories) - President Joko Widodo held bilateral meeting with the Dutch government delegation led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the State Palace discuss on economic cooperation focusing on trade, investment, water management and maritime infrastructure development.
President in a press conference explained that the Netherlands is one of Indonesia’s main partner in Europe. Figures trade, investment and tourists from the Netherlands representing one of the highest in Europe.
“We also discussed the preparation of the negotiation Indonesia - EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and we affirm the results of CEPA negotiations should benefit the people of both sides,” said the President based on Cabinet Secretary statement released on Wednesday.
Widodo and Rutte also discussed increasing the competitive value of Indonesian wood products with already enactment of Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade License(FLEGT). The issue of water management and maritime infrastructure development were also discussed in the meeting.
“We are committed to continue cooperation in these two fields, including the construction of the port of Kuala Tanjung,” Widodo said.
In addition to economic issues, according to the President, the meeting also discussed the strong cooperation to combat terrorism. As known, Indonesia and Netherlands has partnered with for the eradication of terrorism in the Jakarta and Law Enforcement Cooperation in Semarang. Both countries are also active together in Counterterorism Global Forum.
Meanwhile, Dutch Prime Minister said that Indonesian economy is the largest in Southeast Asia. Trade between the two sides recorded 4.22 billion euros in 2015. While on the investment side, The Dutch companies has invested with worth US$1.30 billion in 2015 on the 421 projects. Rutte assess the economic relationship between Indonesia and Netherlands is growing.
“President Widodo and I look forward to improving our relationship. That’s why I came here to bring many governmental delegations, representations Nolan Institute, the Dutch business people from the sector of water management and marine, climate management, waste management, health and agriculture, “said Rutte.
In other meeting, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution said, Dutch investors interested to invest in Indonesia in the field of maritime, port, ship and will help develop the NCICD and the port of Kuala Tanjung.