"Great Britain sees that the potential of Indonesia can be increased. Thus, the country supports big business agreements and we believe they will increase," Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said.
London (ANTARA News) - Entrepreneurs from Indonesia and Great Britain have signed an agreement to conduct 19.02 billion US$ in business during the Indonesia-Britain Business Forum on Wednesday.

"Today, we have witnessed many signing agreements through business-to-business schemes. There were 15 MoUs signed by private sectors and state enterprises from both countries," the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi, said here on Wednesday.

The business forum, held at Mandarin Hotel, was attended by President Joko Widodo, Minister of Trade Thomas Lembong, Chief of Investment Coordinating Board Franky Sibarani, and British Trade Minister Mark Price.

The signing agreement was a follow up from previous approaches that were tried by the two countries.

"Great Britain sees that the potential of Indonesia can be increased. Thus, the country supports big business agreements and we believe they will increase," Marsudi said.

Additionally, the chief of the investment board stated that his office is ready to provide services for British entrepreneurs who are planning to invest in Indonesia.

"The board is ready to facilitate entrepreneurs who are willing to invest in Indonesia. We have opened wider investment opportunities in the country," Sibarani said.

Sibarani noted that the government is improving the business and investment climate in Indonesia by expanding customer services.

Meanwhile, President Widodo said the Indonesian economic situation is stable, which is reflected in the value of the Rupiah and Indonesia Composite Index.

Jokowi added that infrastructure construction and investment are the keys to improving economic development.

Also, the president conducted a reshuffling of his cabinet and has promoted economic deregulations to improve economic conditions.

Indonesia, says the President, will continue instituting economic reforms and increasing investment opportunities.

Previously, Indonesia and Great Britain signed several cooperation agreements in the economic, education, sports, and maritime sectors.

At least, five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between the two governments that focus on cooperation to boost the creative industry, the higher education sector, exchanges of information and experience in the management of sports events, as well as to streamline maritime and fisheries regulations.

Additionally, officials from PT Garuda Indonesia airways and Rolls Royce Company inked an MoU.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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