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Today's Headlines Foreign Relations

  • Indonesia Investments' Subscriber Update - US Elections & Indonesia-US Relations

    The 2020 United States (US) presidential election, held on 3 November 2020, was a fascinating one. The battle between incumbent US President Donald Trump and his rival Joe Biden (the Democratic Party’s candidate) was so close that election night ended without a clear winner. For those who favor one candidate over the other, it was (and is) an emotional roller coaster. For Indonesia Investments, which takes a neutral stance in the election, it is simply a fascinating course of events.

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  • Bilateral Cooperation: Enhancing Trade between Indonesia & India

    Indonesian President Joko Widodo met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Taj Diplomatic Enclave Hotel in New Delhi, India, on Thursday (25/01). During the meeting Widodo - often nicknamed Jokowi - expressed the importance of enhancing economic cooperation between Indonesia and India, two big emerging market forces in the world.

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  • Pence Brings Home $10 Billion of Indonesia-US Business Deals

    The visit of American Vice President Mike Pence to Indonesia was fruitful in terms of investment. A total of 11 commercial and investment deals were signed between Indonesian and US companies that is estimated to have a combined value of USD $10 billion. On Thursday morning (20/04) Pence met Indonesian President Joko Widodo to discuss overcoming obstacles that limit bilateral trade and investment between both nations. One day later Pence departed to Australia.

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  • US Vice President Pence's Visit to Indonesia Meets Resistance

    US Vice President Mike Pence plans to visit Indonesia next week. Indonesia is Pence's third stop during his April 15-25 Asia-Pacific tour. Aim of this short tour is to safeguard and enhance good relations with several Asia-Pacific nations, including Indonesia, as well as boosting regional security cooperation. However, there is plenty of resistance to Pence's visit to Indonesia. Some say he could better cancel the visit as the visit would put the Indonesian government in an awkward position.

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  • Palm Oil Controversy: Indonesia Versus European Union

    Again the government of Indonesia and the European Union (EU) are on opposite sides when it comes to the palm oil sector. Last week, EU parliament passed the Resolution on Palm Oil and Deforestation of Rainforests. This resolution will make it increasingly difficult for Indonesia to export palm oil to the EU as the bloc wants to gradually reduce the use of vegetable oils, including palm oil, that are not sustainably produced in biodiesel. This is a strategy to combat deforestation as well as human rights violations in this sector (for example child labor).

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  • US Vice President Mike Pence to Visit Indonesia in April 2017

    As part of his Asia-Pacific tour, US Vice President Mike Pence plans to visit Indonesia in April 2017. Any dates have bot been finalized yet and therefore the tour has not been announced officially yet. However, an official within the administration of US President Donald Trump said Pence is making the Asia-Pacific tour next month in order safeguard and enhance good relations with several Asia-Pacific nations.

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  • Trade: Indonesia & the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

    Considering ongoing uncertainty about the future of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) after US President vowed to exit this trade deal, Indonesia is eager to find other strategies to boost Indonesia's export performance. The Indonesian government therefore plans to boost trade with the other 20 countries that are part of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Total trade among these IORA nations reached USD $777 billion in 2015. Indonesia joined the IORA in 1997. However, the trade potential posed by this block has not been tapped optimally yet by Indonesia.

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  • Military Ties Indonesia-Australia Cut Over Offensive Material

    After suspending cooperation with US multinational banking and financial services firm JP Morgan Chase (for the underweight rating, a double downgrade), Indonesia has also suspended military ties with Australia after 'offensive training materials' were seen at the Special Air Service base in Perth where members of the Indonesian Special Forces (Kopassus) were doing military training. Major General Wuryanto, Indonesian military spokesman, said on Wednesday (04/01) that all forms of cooperation between the Indonesian and Australian military have been suspended.

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  • Bilateral Trade Relations Indonesia: Widodo Visits India & Iran

    During his state visit to India, Indonesian President Joko Widodo signed three memoranda of understanding. Widodo is on a three-day visit to India (12-13 December) and Iran (14 December) to meet political and corporate leaders and to enhance business and trade relations with the two countries. Indonesia's seventh president is accompanied by Darmin Nasution (Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs), Pratikno (State Secretary), and Thomas Lembong (Chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board, or BKPM).

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  • Tax Amnesty: Singapore Banks Eager to Keep Indonesian Assets Offshore

    Allegedly, several Singaporean banks try to keep Indonesian funds within the country by offering tax incentives to their Indonesian clients. These banks are concerned that Indonesia's tax amnesty program will lure taxpayers to repatriate their funds into Indonesia. Under Indonesia's amnesty program tax evaders obtain tax incentives (and impunity from prosecution) to declare and - if desired - repatriate their offshore funds into Indonesia. Although it is illegal to request Indonesian clients not to declare these assets to Indonesian tax authorities, it is legal to offer an incentive to keep the assets in Singapore.

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Latest Columns Foreign Relations

  • Foreign Relations: Indonesia & Switzerland Boost Economic Cooperation

    The governments of Indonesia and Switzerland encourage cooperation between Indonesian jewelry & ornament companies and Swiss watch makers. This commitment was reached during a meeting between Indonesian Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto and Swiss Head of the Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Johann Schneider-Ammann, together with a Swiss watchmaker association delegacy. Watchmakers are in need of the supply of stones and precious metals. Indonesia can deliver these materials.

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  • 30th ASEAN Summit Shows the Rising Influence of China in Asia

    Now the United States - under the Donald Trump administration - are focused on their "America First" policy, China is able to increase its influence in the Asian region. This was apparent at the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on April 26-29 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City where regional leaders expressed their support for the denuclearization of North Korea but were reluctant to discuss the tensions around the South China Sea.

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  • Diplomatic & Trade Relations Indonesia: US VP Pence Met Jokowi

    Mike Pence, the Vice President of the United States, visited Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Thursday morning (20/04) at the presidential palace in Jakarta as part of Pence's Asia-Pacific tour (15-25 April 2017). Main goals of Pence's visit to several Asia-Pacific nations are to enhance diplomatic relations, improve regional security cooperation, and seek fairer trade. Pence arrived in Jakarta on Wednesday evening, directly from Japan where he emphasized US commitment to rein in North Korea's nuclear and missile ambitions.

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  • France & Indonesia: Hollande's Visit Brings Investment Commitments

    The state visit of French President François Hollande to Indonesia, part of his Southeast Asian tour and the first visit to Indonesia by a French president since François Mitterrand in 1986, resulted in several agreements. On Wednesday (29/03) Hollande met Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta with the aim to strengthen bilateral relations between both nations. Hollande was accompanied by French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Digital Sector and Innovation Minister Christophe Sirugue, parliament members and 40 business representatives.

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  • Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Summit in Indonesia

    Indonesian President Joko Widodo emphasized that the area around the Indian Ocean is the future of the world economy. He made this statement at the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) summit in the Jakarta Convention Center on Monday (06/03). This region, which has a 2.7 billion population in total (around 35 percent of the world population), already sees 70 percent of world trade go through the area and hence the Indian Ocean forms a key trade route, especially for the distribution of oil and gas.

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  • Dutch Trade Mission in Indonesia: Rutte Addressed Parliament

    Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte addressed Indonesian Parliament on Wednesday (23/11) in Jakarta. In his speech he praised Indonesia for rapid economic development that has been booked over the past decade and also touched on the sensitive subject of the colonial period. Rutte acknowledged that the Netherlands waited too long before apologizing (in 2005) for excessive violence that occurred shortly after the Second World War when the Dutch tried to reconquer their former colony.

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  • Netherlands Sends Trade Mission to Indonesia, Rutte Addresses Parliament

    On 23 November 2016 Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will become the first Dutch prime minister to address Indonesian parliament. It is rare for foreign political leaders to speak to Indonesian parliament. Rutte's speech is part of a four-day Dutch trade mission program to Indonesia. Mark Rutte is accompanied by Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Minister Lilianne Ploumen, Infrastructure and the Environment Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen and Environment Minister Sharon Dijksma. In recent years the Netherlands and Indonesia have both been eager to enhance bilateral relations.

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  • Joko Widodo Visits Europe: Germany, Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands

    Indonesian President Joko Widodo kicked off his short European tour on Monday (18/04) in Berlin (Germany) where he met German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Bilateral relations between Indonesia and Germany are important because Germany is Indonesia's largest trading partner in the European continent and Indonesia's seventh-largest investor. Merkel praised Indonesia's economic development amid the complex context (having more than 255 million citizens and consisting of over 17,000 islands). Both state heads talked about strengthening existing partnership in vocational education in several sectors.

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  • Indonesia's Partnerships with Denmark & the United Kingdom

    Indonesia's Agriculture Minister signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Denmark for investment into Indonesia's corn and sugar plantations as well as the cattle industry. Based on the words of Indonesian Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman it involves total Danish investment of at least IDR 2 trillion (approx. USD $152 million) for a period of five years. The deal involves the transfer of Danish agricultural technology, while Indonesia's part of the deal is to provide two million hectares of land. Meanwhile, Indonesia also plans to reaffirm its partnership with the UK in the creative economy industry.

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  • Joko Widodo to Visit the Netherlands to Improve Trade Relations?

    Indonesian President Joko Widodo may visit the Netherlands in 2016. In an interview with Dutch newspaper "De Telegraaf" newly appointed Indonesian ambassador to the Netherlands Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja hinted at Widodo's visit to the Netherlands. Ambassador Puja informed further that more information about this possible state visit is to follow in the next couple of weeks. "You will be surprised," he was quoted saying. Reportedly, Bert Koenders, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, will visit Indonesia in the next two weeks to prepare Widodo's visit.

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