Airlangga Says Many Countries Support Indonesia's G20 Presidency Next Year

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto (Photo via COORDINATING MINISTRY FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto who is currently accompanying President Joko Widodo at the Group of Twenty Summit (G20 Summit) in Rome, Italy, explained that bilateral meetings between Indonesia and several countries have reached an agreement and they strongly support the Indonesian Presidency in the G20 years ahead (2022).

First, in a meeting with Australian Prime Minister (PM) Scott Morrison, there was a discussion on energy and climate change. According to Coordinating Minister Airlangga, Australia supports policies in the energy sector and the energy transition that has been implemented by Indonesia, where the energy transition must also be followed by climate-related financing and investment.

The second discussion is about available and affordable technology. This is also expected to accelerate (the formation of the system) green energy in Indonesia. Then, regarding the Vaccinated Travel Line (VTL), Australia will revitalize tourists and allow their citizens to travel abroad, including to Indonesia, especially for citizens who have been vaccinated twice (full dose).

"Indonesia also said that visits from abroad to Indonesia have rules regarding quarantine, and they (Australia) will follow these rules. They will open (visit) for Indonesians, especially in the two states that have opened, namely New South Wales and Victoria. They also hope that Indonesian students can return to study in Australia," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga in his press statement, Saturday, October 30, Italian time.

Indonesia and Australia also agree that the issue of the digital economy must be discussed at the G20 Indonesia Presidency next year, in particular, so that policies and regulations in the sector do not differ from the conventional sector, especially in terms of digital platforms.

"It is hoped that bullying on social media will be regulated by platforms in a responsible and balanced manner," he added.

Coordinating Minister Airlangga also revealed the plan to develop a Green Hydrogen industry in North Kalimantan in an area of 13,000 hectares.

“What is currently being discussed (investment) with Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) led by Andrew Forest is 3 thousand hectares, and it will integrate hydro-based energy, then investment in the generation of hydrogen economy, and also related to complex petrochemicals. It is hoped that the project will absorb large amounts of energy and generate electricity," explained Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

Second, in a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, they discussed cooperation in the field of the main weapons systems (defense equipment) jointly produced by the two countries, including the involvement, availability, and local content. France of course also supports Indonesia in the 2022 G20 Presidency.

"In the position of the French President who is currently also the President of the European Union (EU), of course, the President also asks for an acceleration of discussions from the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EU CEPA), which we hope will increase Indonesia's exports to Europe and vice versa. , so Indonesia's 'cake' in Europe could increase. It is also hoped that with the G20 Indonesian Presidency, we will have high bargaining power, so it is hoped that there will be benefits in resolving it," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

Third, during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Indonesian-Turkish CEPA cooperation was also discussed, particularly regarding Indonesian crude palm oil (CPO). Coordinating Minister Airlangga said that Indonesia's CPO market, which was initially large in Turkey, has now decreased in value due to Indonesia's neighboring countries which have CEPAs as well.

"So to bring it back, of course, we need to accelerate this. The President has assigned the Minister of Trade to handle the CEPA (with Turkey)," he said.

Lastly regarding MSMEs, Coordinating Minister Airlangga explained that this is a priority for Indonesia, as revealed when President Jokowi gave a speech at the side event of the G20 Summit which discussed MSMEs and women-owned businesses.

"Several inclusive programs have been carried out, both in the form of the Mekaar Program, UMi, KUR, as well as onboarding MSMEs to the digital sector involving 65 million MSMEs, and most of them (entrepreneurs) are women. For example, (Queen of the Netherlands) Queen Maxima took the example of inclusive activities in Indonesia, one of which was the digitalization of online motorcycle taxis, as well as Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi who also appreciated the various programs presented by the President," he concluded.