Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and Singaporean Manpower Minister Tan See Leng met here on Wednesday to discuss bilateral cooperation in technology and the development of human resources.

During a meeting held on the sidelines of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) 2nd Ministerial Meeting, Hartarto and Tan spotlighted the Tech:X Programme aimed at providing opportunities for their countries for the exchange of young technology professionals.

As cited from his office's statement, the Indonesian minister noted that the two countries had earlier inked the Technical Arrangement on Indonesia-Singapore Tech:X Programme on June 7 and are currently preparing a pilot project to initiate the program.

On the occasion, he also expressed hope that Indonesia and Singapore would be able to take their collaborative projects to the next level while highlighting educational cooperation and capacity-building of human resources in semiconductor manufacturing.

"Indonesia is keen to produce high-quality talents equipped with skills related to the microelectronics field in a bid to create a suitable domestic ecosystem for semiconductors. I invited Singapore to support Indonesia in this cause," he stated.

Hartarto also echoed Indonesia's eagerness to expand its cooperation with Singapore in the energy sector and the development of submarine cables, especially in the regions of Batam, Bintan, and Karimun.

The two ministers also touched upon the AZEC meeting and its related events, the Indonesia-Singapore Six Bilateral Economic Working Groups, Indonesia's ongoing accession to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and Indonesia's participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Singapore has been standing as one of Indonesia's most notable partners in the fields of investment and trade. In 2023 alone, the value of investment flowing from Singapore crossed US$15 billion, accounting for around 30 percent of the total foreign investment Indonesia garnered.

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Translator: Bayu S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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