Indonesian Foreign Minister-Denmark Discuss Strengthening Trade Relations

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi/PHOTO via Twitter @menlu_RI

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi held a meeting with Danish Foreign Minister Lars L wayokke Rasmussen in Copenhagen on Wednesday, in order to discuss, among other things, strengthening trade relations between the two countries.

According to Retno, strengthening trade can only be done if both parties can eliminate trade barriers.

"In this regard, I again conveyed a concern regarding the European Union's discriminatory policies, including deforestation regulations recently issued by the European Union," said Retno when delivering an online press statement reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, June 14.

In addition to removing trade barriers, the two Foreign Ministers believe that if the Indonesia-EU CEPA negotiations can be resolved, then the trade relationship will be stronger.

For this reason, the two Foreign Ministers discussed efforts to accelerate the completion of the comprehensive economic partnership agreement negotiations after negotiations for the 14th round at the end of last month.

Denmark is the largest Indonesian trading partner in the Nordic region in 2022. Last year, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that trade between the two countries rose by 132 percent and reached nearly 1 billion US dollars (around Rp. 14.9 trillion).

Retno and Rasmussen discussed several potential sectors that can be strengthened in cooperation, namely investment in energy and health. In the energy sector, there is potential for smart grid development, solar energy, bayu, and hydro.

"I also encourage the realization of Denmark's commitment to support the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in Indonesia," said Retno.

In the health sector, Indonesia hopes for cooperation to strengthen health independence, including through cooperation between Bio Farma and Nova Nordisk to overcome diabetes.

In addition to bilateral issues, the two foreign ministers also discussed regional and global issues, especially Indonesia's chairship priorities in ASEAN, Afghanistan issues, and North-South cooperation.

"I also took the opportunity to meet earlier to ask for Danish support for Indonesia's candidacy at the UN Security Council for 2029-2030," said Retno.

At the end of the meeting, the Indonesian Foreign Minister and the Danish Foreign Minister witnessed the signing of the Implementing Arrangement for the MoU on Infrastructure Project Financing with a value of 1 billion Euros (around Rp. 16 trillion).

The signing of the document is important to strengthen the partnership between the two countries in the cooperation of strategic infrastructure projects in Indonesia.

Retno's visit to Denmark was the first visit by the Indonesian Foreign Minister after 17 years. The last visit of the Indonesian Foreign Minister was carried out in 2006. The visit was also a return visit to the Danish Foreign Minister who had visited Jakarta in November 2021.