ASEAN Needs IDR 2,815 Trillion in Funds to Build Infrastructure, Jokowi Asks Japan to Increase Investment

President Joko Widodo. (Photo: YouTube screenshot of the Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) revealed that the ASEAN region needs around USD 184 billion or the equivalent of IDR 2,815 trillion per year (assuming an exchange rate of IDR 15,300 per dollar) to build infrastructure.

This was announced by Jokowi at the opening of the ASEAN-Japan Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, September 6.

The event was attended by Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Fumio Kishida and leaders of other ASEAN countries.

Jokowi hopes that there will be a partnership with Japan to support this.

Moreover, he continued, the relationship between ASEAN and Japan had been established for a long time and was mutually beneficial.

"ASEAN requires infrastructure investment worth USD 184 billion per year," he said.

On this occasion, Jokowi also opened up opportunities for Japan to be involved in supporting the infrastructure funding.

"ASEAN hopes that Japan can continue to increase its contribution to the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund and the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility to support connectivity and green infrastructure," Jokowi said.

Jokowi said that ASEAN and Japan are one family.

This is reflected in the geographical conditions of ASEAN countries and Japan which are within the same scope of the Asian continent.

“Geographically, Japan and ASEAN are part of Asia. This is our home, this is where we grow and take shelter. "Because of that, we have a big responsibility to maintain our region as a peaceful, stable and prosperous area," he said.