Credentials were handed over to Indonesian President Joko Widodo from the 10 Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors to the Republic of Indonesia, before they were received by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi to detail the priorities for cooperation with the ten countries.

 

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo received credentials from 10 Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors to the Republic of Indonesia at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday morning.

According to the Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat, the ten ambassadors are those from Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Papua New Guinea, the United States, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Cuba, Tunisia and Russia.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that there was a number of collaborations between Indonesia and those 10 friendly countries.

“Indonesia has good relations with the 10 countries. Some of them are Indonesia's main trading partners or economic cooperation partners," Retno noted.

Indonesia and the United States are encouraging negotiations regarding the Critical Mineral Agreement (CMA) and the extension of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for Indonesia, Retno said, adding that Indonesia and Tunisia are completing cooperation negotiations in the field of trade (Indonesia-Tunisia Preferential Trade Agreement).

"We plan this year it will be finished. And if the Preferential Trade Agreement can be completed, the projection is that our exports will increase by 32.82 percent," she explained.

Indonesia and Russia are also pushing for the completion of the Indonesia-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (Indonesia-EAEU FTA) negotiations. According to Retno, this trade cooperation can increase trade between Indonesia and EAEU member countries.

"With the EU (European Union) member countries including Bulgaria, Lithuania, Slovenia, we are pushing for the completion of negotiations on the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)," she added.

She also pointed out that Indonesia is actively helping to strengthen cooperation between Latin American and European countries. For this reason, the Indonesian government has taken the initiative to explore a number of economic collaborations with these countries through a forum which will be held in Peru and Jakarta.

"Indonesia has several initiatives, including the Indonesia-Latin America and The Caribbean Business Forum which this year will be held in September in Peru and also the Indonesia-Europe Business Forum which this year will be held on October 7 and 8 in Jakarta," the minister said.

Retno further said that relations between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have been very well established in both bilateral and Pacific contexts. She pointed out that PNG plays a very important role in the Pacific, so Indonesia will continue to strengthen cooperation with the country in the Pacific.

"After handing over the credentials, one by one I will receive them to provide more detailed priorities for cooperation with the ten countries,"she said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window