FIRST OVERSEAS TRIP DURING PANDEMIC TO TAKE WIDODO TO THREE NATIONS by Fardah

 

Jakarta, Oct 30, 2021 (Antara) A special Garuda Indonesia airplane, GIA-1, departed for Rome, Italy on October 29, 2021 with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his entourage on board, marking the start of his three-nation working visit.

Widodo's trip—which is his first since the pandemic began in 2019 and has come at a time when COVID-19 transmission has begun to slow in many countries, including Indonesia—will take him to Italy for the G20 Summit, Great Britain for COP26, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is an important business partner for Indonesia.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung are accompanying the President on the trip.

G20

Currently, Widodo is in Rome for the Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders' Meeting, scheduled for October 30-31, 2021. He will take over the grouping’s Presidency from Italy at the meeting. 

The G20 members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. Spain is a permanent guest.

Indonesia will hold the Presidency of the G20, which represents 85 percent of the global economy and 75 percent of the global trade, from December 1, 2021 to November 30, 2022. The theme for Indonesia's Presidency is “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”.

He has also been invited to deliver a speech on women’s engagement in micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) at the meeting.

The invitation reflects global recognition of the Indonesian government's efforts toward supporting MSMEs and women’s role in doing business, according to Retno Marsudi.

The President is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with leaders from Australia, France, India, Turkey, Italy, and the World Bank on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

Earlier, Widodo had expressed his eagerness to host the next G20 Summit in Bali Island in 2022 to show world leaders of Indonesia’s ability to handle the COVID-19 pandemic and restore the economy.

"We must also be able to make the most of the G20 Summit, as a showcase regarding our country's ability to control the COVID-19 pandemic, both from a health and economic perspective," he said on October 8, while reviewing the Nusa Dua Convention Hall where the G20 Summit will be held next year.

The government had earlier estimated that several direct benefits could be derived by holding the G20 summit physically, such as an increase in domestic consumption of Rp1.7 trillion, an increase in national GDP (gross domestic product) of Rp7.4 trillion, involvement of MSMEs, and absorption of 33 thousand workers in various sectors.

COP26

From Rome, the President is scheduled to fly to Glasgow, Scotland to attend the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) on November 1-2, 2021.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair the COP26, which will bring together 120 heads of state and government.

“A few days ago, Prime Minister Boris Johnson phoned me to discuss COP26. Indonesia has a very consistent position on the issue of climate change and will work hard to meet its commitment,” Widodo said prior to embarking on the three-nation trip.

Indonesia ratified the Paris Agreement, including the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) commitment, in 2016.

Based on the NDC document, Indonesia is committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 29 percent through its own capabilities and by 41 percent with international support by 2030.

The Indonesian government will reassert its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the COP26, according to the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya Bakar.

Sixty percent of Indonesia's carbon emissions are estimated to come from the forestry and other land use (FOLU) sector, and the rest from the energy, waste, industry, and agriculture sectors, she said recently.

The government has rolled out a Long Term Strategy for Low Carbon and Climate Resilience 2050 in which the forestry sector and landscaping are targeted to function as net carbon sinks in 2030.

In addition, Indonesia has created a roadmap for energy transition to achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2060, according to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif.

Indonesia is committed to addressing matters pertaining to energy access, smart and clean technology, and financing in the energy sector, the minister noted while addressing Road to COP26 Indonesian Pathway for Net Zero Emission Energy Transition event on October 22.

The Indonesian leader is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with several other state leaders on the sidelines of COP26.

The UAE

From Glasgow, President Widodo will proceed to the United Arab Emirates for bilateral talks. He will also hold a business meeting with potential trade partners and investors.

“I will use this visit to strengthen cooperation, particularly in the fields of trade and investment. I will attend business meetings and the outcome of the meetings will be good for our economy,” Widodo said of his trip, which will take place from November 3 to November 4.

While in the Arab country, the President is also scheduled to visit the Indonesian Pavilion at the Dubai Expo 2020.

The Indonesia Pavilion is showcasing and promoting the country’s export products, including those produced by MSMEs, as well as providing comprehensive information about Indonesia’s flagship products and business potential at the six-month exhibition. 

The UAE is one of Indonesia’s major export destinations.  The total trade between the two countries during the January-June 2021 period was valued at US$1.86 billion.

During the period, Indonesia's exports to the UAE were valued at US$0.85 billion. Indonesia's main export commodities to the UAE include palm oil, jewelry, iron tubes and pipes, cars and motor vehicles, as well as synthetic woven fabrics.

Earlier this year, the UAE announced plans to invest $10 billion in Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund with the aim of supporting projects in sectors such as infrastructure, tourism, and agriculture.

Expected to return to Jakarta on November 5, President Widodo will undergo isolation at one of the presidential palaces, either in Bogor or Jakarta, as part of COVID-19 preventive measures.