Jokowi Flies To The US Tomorrow, Attends The Asean-US Summit Until He Meets Elon Musk

Screenshot - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (center) at an online press conference in Jakarta, Monday (9/5/2022) (ANTARA/Indra Arief)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo is scheduled to fly to the United States on Tuesday, May 10, and return on Saturday, May 14, 2022.

In the United States, Jokowi will attend the Asean-US Special Summit which will be held in Washington DC on May 12 and 13, 2022.

After that, Jokowi will have a meeting with the founder of the SpaceX rocket company, Elon Musk. This was confirmed by Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

"Oh, yes, (Jokowi) met (Elon Musk). We are still setting up where to meet", Luhut said at a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Monday, May 9.

Meanwhile, on Luhut's official Instagram account, @luhut.pandjaitan, Jokowi is scheduled to visit SpaceX when he meets Elon Musk. In fact, Musk is also trying to change his busy schedule to meet with the President of the Republic of Indonesia on May 14.

"Elon promised to change his schedule to meet directly with President Jokowi, who is also scheduled to visit SpaceX", said Luhut after he met with Elon Musk on April 26, 2022.

Luhut told the full story about his offer and Elon Musk's interest in the potential of the nickel industry, which plays a major role in electric vehicles (EVs). Even so, Luhut also conveyed his first impressions regarding the meeting.

The meeting which lasted for more than an hour discussed the potential raw materials for electric vehicle batteries in Indonesia. Elon Musk's interest was acknowledged by his assistant who stated that the Tesla boss did not usually receive such a guest visit.

Luhut admitted that his presentation about the nickel industry in the country changed the perception of Tesla's boss. Therefore the figure who just bought Twitter said that it was promising.

"He (Elon) thinks (Indonesian nickel) is very promising to be able to supply raw materials for electric car batteries, which Tesla really needs, of course, as one of the leading electric vehicle manufacturers", said Luhut.