Jokowi-PM Trudeau Strives For ICA-CEPA Negotiations To Be Completed By The End Of 2024

President Jokowi/PHOTO via Instagram @jokowi

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo is working on negotiations that the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA) can be completed by the end of 2024.

This was conveyed by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi after accompanying President Widodo to a bilateral meeting with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Tuesday, September 5.

"The two leaders agreed to make efforts so that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RI-Canada) negotiations can be completed by the end of next year, by the end of 2024," Foreign Minister Retno said in a press release reported by ANTARA.

Foreign Minister Retno conveyed that President Jokowi and PM Trudeau discussed the ASEAN-Canada strategic partnership which will be launched soon and hope to be followed up with the results of concrete cooperation.

The two leaders, according to him, are also very satisfied with the fairly high increase in bilateral trade in 2022.

On that occasion PM Trudeau expressed his appreciation for Indonesia's leadership in an area that was considered quite influential and Indonesia's success in holding the G20 presidency.

Meanwhile, President Jokowi welcomed the formation of a bilateral task force which is expected to immediately follow up on the agreements that have been discussed by the two leaders.

The President also encouraged the Pension Fund to invest in Indonesia, especially in a number of strategic infrastructure projects in Indonesia, including the development of the capital city of Nusantara (IKN) and a green airport in North Kalimantan.

"The two leaders also talked about the importance of cooperation for food security and currently Indonesian SOEs are exploring cooperation in the procurement of potassium and also joint ventures with Canadian companies, and the President really hopes that this can be realized soon," said Foreign Minister Retno.

President Jokowi and PM Trudeau also discussed cooperation related to halal certification. Meanwhile, regarding the critical mineral cooperation, President Jokowi expressed his hope that Canada would support the downstream industry policy that is being implemented by Indonesia.

"PM Trudeau also said that his support for the Indonesian application in OECD and of course the PM (Trudeau) will also talk to OECD members again to provide positive consideration or consideration for the Indonesia application in OECD," said Foreign Minister Retno.