In Front of Indonesian Entrepreneurs and Diaspora in Canada, Coordinating Minister Airlangga Reveals Issues of Indonesian Economic Development

Vancouver,msinews.com-The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Airlangga Hartarto held a meeting with Indonesian Entrepreneurs and Diaspora in Vancouver. In the meeting, Airlangga talked about the digital economy, critical minerals, from the middle class to the Indonesian International Cooperation Map. He began his working visit since the end of Friday August 2024.

Airlangga Hartarto made a working visit for several days to Vancouver, Canada, which was intended to explore increasing economic, trade and investment cooperation between Indonesia and Canada, especially with the Province of British Columbia which is located in the western part of Canada, which is part of Canada that is closer to the Asia Pacific region.

This opportunity also attended the Meeting with Indonesian Entrepreneurs/Diaspora, Community and Students in Vancouver Canada.

Quoting the press release of the Indonesian Ministry of Economic Affairs in a press release delivered by the Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso, that this activity was organized by the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Vancouver in collaboration with the ranks of the Indonesia Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) in Vancouver.

The meeting was attended by many Companies and Business Associations in Vancouver owned and run by Indonesian Entrepreneurs/Diaspora, also attended by several Leaders of the Canada-Indonesia Chamber of Commerce (West Coast Canada Chapter), and attended by the Management of PERMIKA (Indonesian Student Association in Canada), as well as Indonesian Students in Vancouver.

“In the midst of a global economy full of challenges and uncertainty, the Indonesian economy is growing strongly supported by increased competitiveness, controlled inflation and the quality of economic growth that continues to improve,” explained Coordinating Minister Airlangga while updating the latest developments related to the global economy and the Indonesian economy.

He provided information on various strategic issues that will be challenges for Indonesia’s economy in the future, starting from the Demographic Bonus issue and Efforts to Get Out of the Middle Income Trap, issues on energy transition and environmentally friendly renewable energy, digital economy and the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), issues on industrial downstreaming to critical minerals affairs with the US and PRC, as well as issues on the Indonesian Middle Class and the Eradication of Extreme Poverty in Indonesia.

“In the field of Digital Economy, Indonesia is a Major Start-up Player in ASEAN and is ranked 6th in the world, with the most innovative startups or ranked 1st in ASEAN,” he said as written by the Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Susiwijono Moegiarso in a press release on the working visit of Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto to Canada.

In the final session, Coordinating Minister Airlangga also explained the Map of Indonesia’s International Economic Cooperation, starting from the G20 multilateral cooperation, ASEAN regional, APEC Cooperation, IEU CEPA Negotiations, ICA CEPA, and the Regional Cooperation scheme in the Asia Pacific, namely RCEP, CP-TPP and IPEF (Indo Pacific Economic Framework). Then also explained about the development of Indonesia’s accession process to become an OECD Member country.

“Indonesia has expressed its desire to join the CP-TPP, and take experience from the UK which has just joined the CP-TPP,” said Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

It was also explained that to encourage the acceleration of OECD accession, a National Team has been formed which together with all Ministries/Institutions conducted a self-assessment and submitted an Initial Memorandum describing the suitability of Indonesian standards compared to the OECD.

From the Indonesian Diaspora, Luthfi Doffier and Matthew Riyanto from the Canada-Indonesia Chamber of Commerce expressed their support and asked what the Indonesian Government needed from the Diaspora, in order to make Canada more attractive and cooperation increase. Monica Khoe from Indigo Prima said that several Indonesian agro products were over-supplied so that prices fell and the importance of efficient logistics to reduce logistics costs.

Meanwhile, Erick Gunawan from PERMIKA (Indonesian Student Association in Canada) asked about Indonesia’s population growth and efforts towards Golden Indonesia 2045.

In a series of visits to Vancouver, Canada, Coordinating Minister Airlangga is also scheduled to speak at the Business Forum event which will be held by the Indonesian Consulate General and ITPC in Vancouver on September 3, 2024.

The agenda will also meet and have direct dialogue with Entrepreneurs and Potential Investors who are expected to be encouraged to immediately invest and carry out their business activities in Indonesia.** (Domi Dese Lewuk).