Jokowi Asks Japan To Increase Infrastructure Investment To ASEAN, This Is PM Fumio's Response

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio (Photo: screenshot of youtube)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida revealed that his party had added new investment contributions to the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund or ASEAN Infrastructure Fund (AIF).

This was in response to President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) request disclosed at the ASEAN-Japan Summit. This event took place this morning at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Senayan, Jakarta.

Fumio said, his party added investment of up to 100 million US dollars or around Rp. 1.5 trillion (exchange rate of Rp. 15,300 per US dollar) in AIF funding. He said this investment had been made since March 2023.

"In March I announced a new contribution of 100 million US dollars to ASEAN infrastructure funds," said Fumio at the ASEAN Summit meeting at JCC Senayan, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, September 6.

In addition, Fumio also explained that his party had just announced a comprehensive connectivity initiative between ASEAN and Japan in the ASEAN-Indo Pacific Forum (AIPF).

"At the ASEAN-Indo Pacific Forum forum today, I just announced the ASEAN-Japan comprehensive connectivity initiative to further strengthen connectivity both in the hard and soft aspects," he said.

As previously reported, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) revealed that the ASEAN area needed funds of around US$184 billion or equivalent to Rp2,815 trillion per year (assuming an exchange rate of Rp. 15,300 per dollar) to build infrastructure.

This was revealed by Jokowi at the opening of the ASEAN-Japan Summit, at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, September 6. This event was attended by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other ASEAN countries leaders.

Jokowi hopes that there will be partnerships with Japan to support this. Moreover, he said, relations between ASEAN and Japan have been established for a long time and are mutually beneficial.

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

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

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