President Jokowi-PM Meloni Discusses Indonesia-Italy Cooperation and Investment

Indonesian President Joko Widodo held a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, on Sunday (10/9/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Biro Press, Media, and Information of the Secretariat of the President of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni discussed a number of Italian collaborations and investments in Indonesia, in a bilateral meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, today.

In the investment sector, President Jokowi welcomed the increase in investment by Italy into Indonesia.

"I welcome the increase in Italian investment and the inauguration of the Piaggio factory last year," said Jokowi, as conveyed in a written statement from the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Indonesian Presidential Secretariat, quoted via Antara.

Furthermore, President Jokowi also expressed his appreciation for Italy's commitment to the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) scheme.

Italy was one of a number of countries that agreed to JETP on the sidelines of the G20 Summit last year, with a total funding commitment of up to 20 billion US dollars (around IDR 307.6 trillion) for a sustainable economy in Indonesia.

"I hope that this commitment will be implemented immediately because support for funding mobilization is an important element in the energy transition," said President Jokowi.

In addition, the Head of State invited Italy to be involved in the development of the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem in Indonesia, green infrastructure, and the development of the Indonesian Capital City.

During the meeting which lasted around 20 minutes, President Jokowi also asked PM Meloni for support for Indonesia's membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Also accompanying the President at the meeting were the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, and Minister of State Secretary Pratikno.