"I want to lend assurance to you that we will boost Indonesia's position in the global supply chain by providing incentives for the production of goods that have added value," Pandjaitan remarked in a statement, Friday.
While addressing JETRO members, including its Chairman and CEO Nobuhiko Sasaki, Pandjaitan noted that the Indonesian government will continue to work towards ensuring greater equitable and fair economic growth and to conduct development across the nation.
Pandjaitan stated that the government is presently focusing on the development of key infrastructure, such as toll roads, power plants, ports, and railroads.
"Infrastructure is the key, particularly in the transportation and electricity sectors, so we are conducting a careful review of the policies that can potentially hinder the development of main infrastructure," he noted.
However, he also pointed out that the government was simultaneously making serious efforts to develop the quality of human resources (HR).
In 2019 and ahead, the state budget (APBN) will be directed chiefly for the development of quality human resources through increasing access and distribution as well as improving the quality of education, Pandjaitan explained.
In accordance with this vision, Indonesia welcomes Japanese firms interested to invest in improving the quality of human resources in Indonesia.
During a series of meetings with JETRO, Pandjaitan was accompanied by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head, and Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Arifin Tasrif.
The meeting with JETRO was the additional agenda of those economic ministers before attending the G20 Summit in Osaka.
Marine waste
Before the G20 Summit on June 28-29, 2019, Minister Pandjaitan also held a bilateral meeting with Japanese Environment Minister Yoshiaki Harada in Osaka on Thursday (June 27).
At the meeting, both ministers decided to forge cooperation to supervise marine plastic waste in a joint statement.
The statement includes joint pilot projects between both nations as an implementation of the microplastic supervision guidelines prepared by Japan as well as cooperation in exchanging information and developing guidelines for monitoring marine plastic waste based on findings from a joint pilot project.
In addition, a training in Japan was agreed to boost the capacity of Indonesian researchers in the marine waste monitoring methodology.
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Ade Irma Junida/Yashinta Difa
Editor: Eliswan Azly
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
