JAKARTA - Indonesia and the United Kingdom have agreed to prioritise economic development through cooperation in numerous fields including trade and investment, creative industry, financial technology, renewable energy, and education.
“The United Kingdom is one of [Indonesia’s] most important trade partners in Europe as well as one of our largest investors,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Mahendra Siregar on the sidelines of his meeting with UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Asia and the Pacific Heather Wheeler at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tuesday (14/1).
According to Mrs Wheeler, the UK government is welcoming any initiative to strengthen economic diplomacy with Indonesia, particularly to increase bilateral trade between the two countries through a Trade Review mechanism. This is considered important to prepare a comprehensive economic partnership between both countries after the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union or Brexit is made official.
Mrs Wheeler’s visit, said Mr Siregar, reaffirmed Indonesia and the UK’s commitment to partnership and friendship. Aside from various bilateral matters, over the course of her visit from January 13-15, 2020 Mrs Wheeler also met with Deputy Trade Minister Jerry Sambuaga and ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi, and inaugurated the headquarters of the UK’s Permanent Envoy to ASEAN in Jakarta. (MS)