Indonesian Foreign Minister Discusses Opportunities For Green Investment Cooperation With The Netherlands

Dutch Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (right) and Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot/ANTARA PHOTO/ADITYA PRADANA PUTRA

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi discussed opportunities for increased cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands in a number of fields, including green sector investment.

Speaking to reporters after a bilateral meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot in Jakarta, Retno said the Netherlands was the largest investor from Europe to contribute more than 15.5 billion US dollars since 2013, with an annual average increase of 15.8 percent.

The Netherlands has also been one of the European countries committed to supporting the energy transition in Indonesia.

"And in the future, Indonesia hopes to strengthen cooperation to develop a semiconductor industrial ecosystem in Indonesia," said Retno as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 31.

Retno said Indonesia appreciates the Dutch' commitment to supporting energy transition, promoting sustainability in Indonesia, and strengthening cooperation in the development of sustainable ports, sustainable shipbuilding, and solar energy and wind power plants.

Retno also announced the launch of the Comprehensive Partnership Action Plan between Indonesia and the Netherlands for 2024-2025.

This action plan will be a road map for the continuation of the partnership and collaboration between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Bruins Slot said in a joint effort to realize a sustainable future, the Netherlands is currently proposing grants for an investment of 105 million euros to Indonesia.

This grant is part of a 300 million euro cooperation program established by the Netherlands and Indonesia through a partnership with Invest International, a Dutch financial institution that was formed to support Dutch investment abroad.

He conveyed that this program also includes loans from the Netherlands, and will support sustainable and inclusive public initiatives in sectors relevant to Dutch expertise in several areas, such as climate and energy, agriculture and food, health services, water and infrastructure.

According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the value of Dutch investment in Indonesia in 2022 is 1.22 billion US dollars.

Dutch investment in Indonesia is dominated by the manufacturing sector. Another sector that is also the goal of Dutch investment in Indonesia is the financial services sector, the agricultural sector, and the energy sector.

A number of Dutch investment projects in Indonesia, among others, the construction of the Frisian Flag milk factory in East Java, Shell investment in the downstream oil and gas sector, terminal construction at Tanjung Priok Port, renewable energy development, and infrastructure development.