Indonesia, Japan Discuss Sustainability Partnership

The Indonesian and Japan governments have initiated bilateral discussion related to cooperation on sustainability as one of prioritized issues.

During his visit to Jakarta, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Koichi Hagiuda met with Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and discussed a number of strategic issues, including the possibility of a joint forum where the two countries can focus on sustainable efforts.

The initiative, dubbed as “Public Private Track 1.5: Japan Indonesia Co-Creation Partnership for Innovative and Sustainable Economic Society” aims to enhance bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Japan on regional and global supply chain, infrastructure development, digital economy, human resource development, and sustainable industry, which are the priorities of Indonesia’s development.

“Indonesia is always at the ready to work together with Japan to optimize the massive potential from our bilateral cooperation,” Hartarto said in a statement on Tuesday, January 11.

The forum is also expected to be the platform where Indonesia can promote its small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) and digital economy, which have significantly improved in the last few years.

During the meeting, the two state officials also discussed possible cooperation related to Indonesia’s G20 presidency this year. Entitled “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”, Hartarto invited the Japan government to support the campaign and agendas mapped out by the Indonesian government.

Furthermore, trade issues weren’t missed as one of the focal points in the discussion. Between January and November 2021 period, total trade value of Indonesia and Japan reached up to US$28.5 billion, or 31 percent higher compared to the same period in the previous year. Hartarto and Hagiuda discussed the plan to expand trade, including between Japan and ASEAN.