Development Cooperation Road Map Compiled
Through his visit to Papua New Guinea, President Joko Widodo encouraged the strengthening of trade cooperation and connectivity between the two countries. Preferential trade agreement (PTA) will be discussed. Connectivity is also developed.
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When President Jokowi arrived at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Wednesday (5/7/2023) at around 11.00 local time, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape warmly welcomed him upon his arrival from Indonesian Presidential Plane-1. The visit was made after a visit to Australia.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – During his visit to Papua New Guinea, President Joko Widodo encourages to strengthen trade cooperation and connectivity between the two countries. The development of a roadmap for cooperation in development over the next five years was also agreed upon by President Jokowi and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape.
President Joko Widodo did not only meet with Governor General of Papua New Guinea Sir Bob Dadae and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape during his visit to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Wednesday (5/7/2023), but also attended the first Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) business forum at APEC Haus, Papua New Guinea.
In a joint statement with PM Marape, President Jokowi stated Indonesia's commitment to further enhance cooperation with Pacific countries, including PNG. To that end, President Jokowi and PM Marape have agreed to develop a roadmap for cooperation in development for the next 5 years.
"Indonesia will also begin renovating facilities at Port Moresby Hospital, constructing a fire station post, managing waste in Vanimo, building a school in Wutung, and increasing scholarships for PNG students," said President Jokowi in a joint statement after a bilateral meeting with PM Marape."
President Jokowi and PM Marape also discussed increasing cooperation in the economic sector between Indonesia and PNG. According to the President, Indonesia-PNG trade in 2022 increased sharply, reaching 307 million US dollars.
Also read: Boosting Trade Cooperation, RI Ready to Reopen Border with Papua New Guinea
"This needs to be continuously improved by encouraging the continuation of PTA (preferential trade agreement) discussions, the establishment of a Business Council, visits to trade and investment missions, the participation of Indonesian SOEs in highway construction in PNG, he said.
Regarding connectivity and borders, President Jokowi welcomed a number of policies and opened activities at the border. Currently, the PNG Express shipping route has been opened, the Denpasar-Port Moresby flight route has been opened, the Basic Agreement on Border Arrangement has been ratified, and the Skouw-Wutung crossing post has been reopened.
Indonesia will soon begin renovating the facilities of Port Moresby Hospital, constructing a Fire Station, managing waste in Vanimo, building schools in Wutung, and enhancing scholarships for PNG students.
PM Marape in his joint statement mentioned many achievements since his visit to Indonesia at the end of March 2022. In addition to cooperation on border arrangements, there are already visa on arrival arrangements for visitors with ordinary passports.
President Joko Widodo was welcomed by a state ceremony held shortly after arriving at Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Wednesday (5/7/2023).
Collaboration to prevent and counter transnational crimes, defense cooperation, education cooperation, and intelligence cooperation have also been established.
The cooperation between PT PLN and Power PNG Ltd has also occurred. Electricity will be supplied from Jayapura to Vanimo and from Merauke to its neighboring side. It is acknowledged that electricity from Indonesia is cheaper, so he hopes that synergy and joint operations can be continued in the future.
Prime Minister Marape also welcomes scholarship offers for PNG students to study at Indonesian universities. He emphasized that the PNG government will send its students to study in Indonesia.
Indonesia also opens its market for PNG products. Therefore, we must ensure that livestock products and PNG products can enter Indonesia and vice versa.
PM Marape expressed gratitude for the grant assistance for the development of the general hospital ICU and assistance for government projects.
Furthermore, PM Marape stated that President Jokowi has opened opportunities for Papua New Guinea's products. "Indonesia is also opening the market for PNG's products. Therefore, we must ensure that livestock products and PNG's products can enter Indonesia and vice versa," he said.
Indo-Pacific
Recently, regarding the Indo-Pacific cooperation, President Jokowi conveyed a commitment to enhance the interaction between Indonesia and ASEAN with the Pacific. "This includes inviting Pacific representatives to the East Asia Summit and organizing the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum," said the President.
This includes inviting Pacific representatives to the East Asia Summit and holding the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum.
PM Marape called Indonesia a western Pacific country and the closest neighbor in the Asian region to PNG. Moreover, he said, Indonesia supports PNG in APEC and ASEAN as well as in trade or intergovernmental relations. "You are friends and family because our people are one ancestor," he said in English.
Penerbangan
In the first business forum between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea held at the APEC Haus, President Jokowi assessed that Indonesia and PNG are economic giants in each region, namely the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Therefore, cooperation between the two countries is believed to have a significant impact not only for both countries' societies but also the region.
President Joko Widodo held a bilateral meeting with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape at the APEC Haus in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on Wednesday (7/5/2023).
"I am confident and believe that the closeness between Indonesia and PNG will become stronger with concrete economic cooperation," said the President.
President Jokowi also stated that Indonesia will support the Connect PNG program, including through state-owned construction companies with extensive experience in several countries.
Connectivity is also continuously being developed through the opening of the PNG Express shipping route and the Denpasar-Port Moresby flight route.
"The President said, "We are also continuing to develop connectivity with the opening of the PNG Express shipping route and the Denpasar-Port Moresby flight."
In this forum, President Jokowi also witnessed the symbolic handover of a Citilink airplane miniature to the representative of the business forum participants as a sign of the launch of the inaugural Citilink flight from Denpasar to Port Moresby.
Infrastructure and connectivity are referred to by President Jokowi as the main requirement for sustainable economic growth.
Reply
President Jokowi's visit to Papua New Guinea is a return visit after Prime Minister Marape's state visit to the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on March 31, 2022, accompanied by Madam Rachel Marape. During the visit, several collaborations were established, such as between PT PLN and PNG Power, the opening of flight routes from Jayapura-Port Moresby and Merauke-Port Moresby, customs and excise cooperation, as well as maritime cooperation.
At that time, PM Marape also invited President Jokowi to visit Papua New Guinea in 2023. PM Marape also mentioned that the relationship between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea has been marked by God as brothers. "You have always been there for us in some moments where we struggle as a nation," he recalled Indonesia's support during PNG's financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.
"You have always been there for us in some moments when we struggle as a nation."
Therefore, when President Jokowi arrived at Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Wednesday (5/7/2023) at around 11.00 local time, PM Marape warmly welcomed the President since he got off the Indonesian-1 presidential plane. The visit was carried out after a trip to Australia.
After greeting and shaking hands, PM Marape introduced the welcoming committee from Papua New Guinea, namely State Event Minister Justin Tkachenko, National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop, Chief of Secretariat for the Department of Prime Minister and NEC Ivan Pomaleu, Secretary General for the Department of Foreign Affairs Elias Wohengu, and Commander of the Armed Forces Major General Mark Goina.
The Ambassador of Indonesia to Papua New Guinea, Andriana Supandy, and the Defense Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby, Colonel (Inf) Piter Dwi Ardianto, were also present to greet President Jokowi at the Jacksons International Airport.
After the introduction, a state ceremony was immediately held at the airport. A stage of honor was prepared for the two leaders. The national anthems of both countries were played accompanied by cannon fire. PM Marape then invited President Jokowi to inspect the honor guard parade.
President Joko Widodo met with Governor General of Papua New Guinea Sir Bob Dadae at the Government House in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Wednesday (5/7/2023).
From the national ceremony, while heading to his vehicle, President Jokowi was presented with the "Hiri Motu" dance. At the airport, on Wednesday afternoon, President Jokowi went to Government House to meet with Papua New Guinea Governor General Sir Bob Dadae. Secretary to the Governor General Bill Toraso allowed President Jokowi to climb the stairs to the meeting room. In front of the meeting room, President Jokowi signed the guest book before entering and meeting with Governor General Dadae.
The meeting lasted for approximately 20 minutes, and at the end of the meeting, Governor General Dadae escorted President Jokowi to a vehicle to head towards APEC Haus, the location of the meeting with PM Marape.
During a visit to Papua New Guinea, the President was accompanied by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, the Investment Minister/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia, and the Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan.
At the APEC Haus, PM Marape once again welcomed President Jokowi from his vehicle. Not only that, the Hiri Moale dance was also presented as a welcome.
PM Marape and President Jokowi had a one-on-one meeting (tête-à-tête) on the second floor of APEC Haus. Only after that, a bilateral meeting was held.
Also present at the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Immigration, Borders, and Land John Rosso, Minister of Fisheries Jelta Wong, Minister of Health Lino Tom, Minister of Agriculture Aye Tambua, Minister of Education Jimmy Uguro, Minister of Higher Education Don Polye, Minister of Coffee Joe Kuli, Minister of Palm Oil Francis Maneke, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises William Duma, as well as Minister of Transportation and Civil Aviation Walter Schnaubelt.
Also read: Indonesia Ready to Reopen Border with Papua New Guinea
At the end of the bilateral meeting, President Jokowi and PM Marape witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Higher Education between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. This cooperation was signed by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Papua New Guinea's Minister of Higher Education Don Polye.
The meeting concluded with a state luncheon at APEC Haus. In his speech, President Jokowi appreciated the warm welcome from the government and people of Papua New Guinea. "Thank you for the warm welcome. I am very grateful for the friendship between our two countries that has been established so far," he said.
The relationship between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, according to President Jokowi, is not only as friends, but also as blood relatives. In fact, the President uses the philosophy of the people of Papua New Guinea, "Wan", which describes unity and togetherness. ”We are Wan family. The closest brother is called a neighbor," he said.
PM Marape, in his statement, praised the meeting with President Jokowi as the warmest meeting he had ever attended. According to him, the relationship between the two countries has also improved significantly compared to years ago.
