Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi has confirmed the Japanese delegations visit to Indonesia after a closed-door meeting held to discuss the preparations for the bilateral meeting between Jokowi and Abe at the Presidential Palace Complex on Wednesday.
President Jokowi is also scheduled to receive a collective audience with the Japanese CEOs.
"Japan is one of our best economic partners. This is demonstrated by our bilateral trade, which was valued at more than US$31 billion last year," Marsudi noted.
Japan is the second-largest investor in Indonesia, with investment reaching $4.5 billion during the January-September 2016 period.
During his first visit to Indonesia this year, Abe and Jokowi will discuss various issues, including detailed economic cooperation between both nations.
Speaking in connection with Abes visit, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan revealed that he will discuss several infrastructure projects, such as the deep-sea Patimban port, the medium-speed Jakarta-Surabaya railway, the East Natuna gas block in cooperation with Inpex, as well as petrochemical and fertilizer projects.
The Indonesian government is seeking the participation of a local private investor in the construction project involving the Patimban Port in West Java.
State-owned port operator Pelindo II has, so far, expressed its commitment to managing the port, in partnership with a Japanese company, which will later be appointed by the government.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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