JABAR EKSPRES – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, met with British Prime Minister’s Envoy for Trade to Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and ASEAN Richard Graham who supported Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023.
“Indonesia appreciates the UK’s support for Indonesia, both in the ASEAN Chairmanship agenda and the bilateral relations between Indonesia and the UK that have been well built and maintained,” Airlangga said during the meeting as quoted from an official statement, Wednesday (6/8).
Richard Graham said the UK as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner has provided support for two of Indonesia’s Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs), namely priorities related to the development of an industrial initiative framework in the ASEAN region and the preparation of a roadmap to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region.
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As one of Indonesia’s largest trading partners in the European region, the UK also expressed readiness to support the downstream industry, electric vehicle ecosystem, and economic digitalization in Indonesia.
Responding to the UK’s plan to develop Indonesia’s education sector, Airlangga said the UK government could cooperate with Brawijaya University and Singasari Special Economic Zone in Malang.
“It can also take the cooperation model that has been carried out by Monash University, Apple Academy, and IBM Academy,” he said.
Airlangga also discussed the derivative regulation of Due Dilligence on Forest Risk Commodities that is being drafted by the UK.
He hopes that the UK will not follow the steps of the European Union which recently issued the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) which has the potential to harm smallholders from Indonesia’s leading export commodities, especially palm oil.
“For this reason, Indonesia is ready to hold further discussions to equalize mutual understanding with the UK to find fair and non-discriminatory steps and meeting points that are acceptable to both parties,” Airlangga said.
