We want stronger bilateral cooperation particularly in the economic sector between the two countries. Moreover, Indonesia and Singapore serve as great assets for the ASEAN regionJakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Singapore have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in developing the competitive edge of the industrial sector, ranging from increasing investment to implementing vocational education to encourage economic growth in the two neighboring nations. "We want stronger bilateral cooperation particularly in the economic sector between the two countries. Moreover, Indonesia and Singapore serve as great assets for the ASEAN region," Indonesian Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said after a meeting with Singapore Minister of Industry and Trade Chan Chun Sing here on Tuesday.
The two nations have established cooperation in encouraging the application of industry 4.0 as reflected by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Industrial Research and Development Board (BPPI) of the Industry Ministry and Enterprise Singapore during the Indonesia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat held on the sidelines of the IMF Annual Meeting in Bali in October 2018, Kartasasmita said.
"Also, the two countries have also established cooperation in promoting human resources in the industrial sector particularly in Indonesia through a vocational education program, among others," he said.
Since 2018, the government has organized training courses for 100 school headmasters, vice school headmasters and teachers across Indonesia. The government also planned to organize training on the implementation of industry 4.0 for 120 participants including managerial staff members and industrial polytechnic teachers from 2019 to 2020.
"We encourage the training that will involve potential instructors from the educational community in the future. In the next five years, we have set ourselves the target of creating 10 thousand workers in the industrial sector whose competency could be increased," he said.
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In the investment field, there are several potential areas of cooperation that the two countries can establish, including encouraging Singapore's investment in the infrastructure sector to support industrial and regional connectivity.
Singapore remained the largest investor in Indonesia in the first half of last year, with US$3.4 billion investment.
The other area of cooperation is the development of integrated industrial zones including the Kendal Industrial Estate in Central Java, Kuala Tanjung in North Sumatra, Tanah Kuning in North Kalimantan and Bitung in North Sulawesi. (INE)
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Translator: Sella Panduarsa Gareta/Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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