Received Serbian Foreign Minister's Visit, Foreign Minister Retno Discussed Wheat Imports To Ukraine Crisis

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi with Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi welcomed the positive growth of cooperation with Serbia, and discussed the crisis in Ukraine during a visit by Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic, Monday.

Foreign Minister Retno said that as a co-founder of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961, Indonesia and Serbia had long established bilateral relations, as well as being one of Indonesia's important partners in the Southeast European region.

In a meeting in Jakarta today, Foreign Minister Retno and Foreign Minister Selakovic signed the MoU on Political Consultation between Indonesia and Serbia, as the basis for Indonesia, Serbia Bilateral Consultation Forum to discuss various issues of mutual interest.

"We have also identified areas of cooperation that need to be further strengthened. On food security cooperation, we have shared concerns about the impact of the war in Ukraine on food security, in particular the increase in food prices. For this purpose, we agreed to increase trade cooperation in food/agricultural commodities, especially wheat ," said Foreign Minister Retno.

He said Indonesia, through the state-owned company PT Berdikari and the Serbian company as business partners, had shown readiness to facilitate the export of the wheat. The plan is that Foreign Minister Selakovic will meet with PT Berdikari.

"In trade and investment cooperation, our relationship shows a positive trend despite the pandemic. In 2021, our bilateral trade will reach 26.8 million US dollars," explained Foreign Minister Retno.

"I am grateful for Serbia's willingness to increase Indonesia's palm oil export market share to 30 percent," he continued.

On the occasion, Foreign Minister Retno also appreciated the high absorption of Indonesian workers in various sectors,

I am also pleased to note Serbia's interest in hiring more Indonesian workers in various sectors, including in the construction, hospitality and food and beverage sectors.

Underlined by Foreign Minister Retno, her party hopes for better protection and legal certainty for Indonesian migrant workers.

I express hope for Serbia's support to ensure better protection and legal certainty for Indonesian migrant workers.

It is known that Indonesia's outbound investment in Serbia is worth more than US$11 million and continues to grow and even penetrate further into the European Union market, including the production and distribution of instant noodles to mushroom cultivation plantations.

"We agree that there is plenty of room to enhance our two-way trade and investment relationship. We also see the need to intensify business-to-business contacts, including through our Chamber of Commerce," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the Ukraine issue, Foreign Minister Retno reiterated Indonesia's position on the importance of upholding public policy

On international issues, we discussed the situation in Ukraine. I reiterate Indonesia's position on the importance of upholding the principle of mutual respect for integrity and territorial sovereignty.

I also underlined Indonesia's call for all parties to immediately stop the war and find a peaceful solution at the negotiating table, stressing the need to develop a strategic climate of trust, in which each country bears the responsibility to contribute to creating a conducive environment for conflict resolution.