- ANTARA/HO-Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden/Laily Rachev
VIVA – The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo and a number of leaders ASEAN countries met with businessmen from the United States (US), at the Intercontinental the Willard Hotel, Washington DC on Thursday, May 12, 2022.
In a series of ASEAN-US Summits, President Joko Widodo emphasized the potential of industrial raw materials as one of Indonesia's strengths in his meeting with entrepreneurs and CEOs (leaders) of large US companies.
Furthermore, Jokowi said that Indonesia currently has 270 million people with the majority of productive age continuing to innovate. In addition, Jokowi said that Indonesia also has abundant natural resources, ranging from the provision of industrial raw materials to green energy.
"As one of the largest nickel ore producing countries in the world, Indonesia is growing faster in the iron and steel industry. Currently, Indonesia is the second largest stainless-steel producer in the world," President Jokowi said in an official statement received by Antara in Jakarta on Friday, May 13, 2022.
President Joko Widodo gave a virtual speech at the COVID-19 II Global Summit in Washington DC, United States, Thursday, May 12, 2022 local time.
According to the President, Indonesia is rich in mines such as copper and bauxite for aluminum, which will form the backbone of the new and renewable energy industry, including lithium batteries and electric cars and with the existing green energy potential.
Presiden Joko Widodo menyampaikan pidato secara virtual dalam Konferensi Tingkat Tinggi Global COVID-19 II di Washington DC, Amerika Serikat, Kamis 13 Mei 2022.
- ANTARA/Gilang Galiartha
"We ensure that the production of essential goods will be produced from environmentally friendly power plants. We invite American businesses to invest in Indonesia," said Jokowi.
The President added that Indonesia is also serious in developing a digital economy. Currently, Indonesia has 2,346 start-up companies or is the country with the fifth most "start-ups" in the world.
"I really hope for the contribution of American businesses in developing digital infrastructure, facilitating 'digital capacity building', and supporting us in entering the 'global value chain' through digitalization," the President said.
As the country that holds the Chair of the G20, the President also ensures that the high-level conference can work as a catalyst for global economic recovery. Especially for the progress of developing countries. Therefore, the President hopes that there will be concrete, beneficial cooperation with ASEAN, especially Indonesia.
"All this requires a close partnership between the government and the business community. I hope that the CEOs of big American companies can build concrete cooperation in the G20, and cooperation with ASEAN, especially with Indonesia," he said.
The meeting was attended by US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, US-ASEAN Business Council Ted Osius, Special Envoy for Climate Change John Kerry and a number of US corporate leaders including Google, Chevron, Boeing, Qualcomm, ConocoPhillips, Marriott International, and others.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Indonesian Ambassador to the US Rosan Roeslami accompanied President Jokowi in the meeting.
