Focus on Increasing Trade Volume

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko Widodo with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, Bogor, West Java, on Monday (5/9/2022).

BOGOR, KOMPAS – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and First Lady Iriana Widodo have welcomed the state visit of Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos at Bogor Palace in West Java. Indonesia and the Philippines have agreed to strengthen their partnership of almost 75 years, with both countries seeking to significantly increase the volume of trade.

The visit marks Marcos Jr.’s first overseas trip since he was inaugurated on 30 June 2022.

“Welcome to Indonesia. It is an honor to receive your first foreign visit, Your Excellency,” President Jokowi said in his opening remarks at the bilateral meeting on Monday (5/9/2022) at Bogor Palace.

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In a joint press statement after the meeting, President Jokowi said Indonesia and the Philippines had agreed to strengthening bilateral cooperation in various sectors, as well as strengthening regional cooperation through ASEAN. “First, we will encourage a significant increase in trade volume,” said the President.

Compared to last year, trade between Indonesia and the Philippines had grown almost 50 percent. Indonesia, in particular, was pushing for increased exports of food and beverage products, pharmaceuticals, and coconut and seaweed products.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko Widodo with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr at the Presidential Palace, Bogor, West Java, on Monday (5/9/2022).

“I invite the Philippines to continue developing the potential for trade and connectivity in border areas. I propose revitalizing the Bitung-Davao ro-ro [roll on/roll off] and opening Manado-Davao flights,” said Jokowi.

Both leaders agreed to increase cooperation in the infrastructure and strategic industries. A number of Indonesia’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have development projects located in the Philippines, including PT PAL’s procurement of two landing platform docks and PT LEN’s railway signal project in Manila. Jokowi also expected the Philippines to complete its purchase of NC-212i aircraft from PT Dirgantara Indonesia.

ASEAN centrality

The two leaders also agreed to cooperate on security and defense, especially in border areas, as well as increase regional cooperation through ASEAN. President Jokowi stressed the importance of strengthening ASEAN’s centrality and unity, saying that Indonesia aimed to ensure that ASEAN continued to be the locomotive of stability, peace and prosperity in the region.

President Jokowi underlined the importance of implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific through concrete and inclusive cooperation.

ASEAN must overcome various challenges and increase respect for the ASEAN Charter to strengthen ASEAN centrality. President Jokowi underlined the importance of implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific through concrete and inclusive cooperation.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko Widodo with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, Bogor, West Java, on Monday (5/9/2022).

According to Phillippine President Marcos, the two leaders’ talks highlighted trade, so both countries could escape the adverse effects of the pandemic. “Not only are we close in terms of culture, but we are also close in ethnicity. Strong partnerships will form as we slowly emerge from the pandemic. Economics is a field that will lead us to success. That is why we establish partnerships throughout the world, especially in the ASEAN region,” he said.

After his meeting with President Jokowi, Marcos met with the Filipino diaspora in Indonesia. Data from the Philippine government show that 7,448 Filipinos work in Indonesia, contributing annual foreign exchange of US$17.5 million per year.

The majority of Filipino workers in Indonesia are professionals in operational, managerial and directorial roles. (WKM/DNE)

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.