SOEs Encouraged to Expand Partnerships outside the Southeast Asia Region

PRESS RELEASE

COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA TEAM OF THE 43^rd ASEAN SUMMIT 2023

No.100/SP/TKM-ASEAN2023/ENG/9/2023

Jakarta, 6 September 2023 – The ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF) provides an opportunity for State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) under the SOEs Ministry to expand cooperation with partners outside the Southeast Asian region.

The business exhibition held by SOEs on Tuesday (5/9/2023) became one of the important activities in the two-day event at the Mulia Jakarta Hotel. The participating SOEs were, among others, MIND ID, Pertamina, PLN, Mandiri, BRI, BNI, Telkom, InJourney and Telkomsel.

SOEs Minister Erick Thohir emphasized that Indonesia's position is part of the solution to problems in Southeast Asia.

"We were inspired by ASEAN's views and President Joko Widodo's leadership to make ASEAN a center of growth, while maintaining peace, security, stability, and also prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. It is this passion that makes us here today," said Erick when delivered a speech at the Opening of AIPF 2023 at the Mulia Hotel, Jakarta, Tuesday (5/9/2023).

He said AIPF was an opportunity to see opportunities while building responsibility for a more connected, prosperous, and sustainable future in the ASEAN and Indo-Pacific regions. ASEAN's view of the Indo-Pacific, said Erick, is to strengthen regional cooperation and promotes sustainable and innovative development.

AIPF, which is part of the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023, will be a platform for constructive dialogue to advance inclusive and concrete collaboration between the government, private sector, and state-owned enterprises.

"In facing complex global challenges, the Indonesian government, through SOEs, is actively collaborating with global partners to overcome problems in various sectors, for example by forming strategic alliances to build a supply value chain ecosystem, working together in expanding connectivity and digitalization throughout the region, and participating in regional infrastructure development. These examples represent the transformative power of regional cooperation for the collective progress of the ASEAN and Indo-Pacific communities," explained Erick.

ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum 2023: Implementation of the ASEAN Outlook of the Indo-Pacific which is the flagship event that is inseparable from the 43^rd ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit officially opened on Tuesday (5/9/2023).

Indonesian President Joko Widodo inaugurated the event held at the Mulia Hotel in Jakarta in the presence of the leaders of ASEAN member states.

Signing of MoUs

On the opening day of AIPF, some memoranda of understanding (MoU) were signed from two agreed collaborations. The first collaboration was carried out by ten heads of ministries/institutions who agreed to increase the use of local currency in transactions with foreign partners.

Meanwhile, national airline Garuda signed an MoU with global technology company Thales on collaboration in creating an innovation laboratory dedicated to maintaining avionics equipment.

AIPF highlights three sub-themes: green infrastructure and resilient supply chains; innovative and sustainable financing; and digital transformation and the creative economy.

Deputy Minister of SOEs, Rosan Roeslani said, AIPF that is held during Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship could be a starting point, which is expected to be continued in the next chairmanship. Rosan reiterated President Joko Widodo's appreciation for the support and contribution of ASEAN countries and their partners in the ASEAN and Indo-Pacific Community which resulted in 93 projects with a project value of around US$38.2 billion, not including 73 potential projects with a total value of US$17, 8 billion.

On the second day of AIPF, apart from discussions, AIPF also present leader talks, CEO Fireside Chat and business matching involving more than 129 companies, including state-owned companies. In addition, there are 35 SOE projects, 4 projects of the National Development Planning (Bappenas) Agency, and 11 projects from ASEAN countries, which will be discussed in business matching.

"We estimate that from the business matching there will be additional US$50 billion worth of potential cooperation, consisting of US$22 billion from SOEs, US$10 billion from four Bappenas projects, and from projects coming from five countries: the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Brunei Darussalam, worth US$810 million," explained Rosan.

The SOEs involved in business matching are MIND ID/IBC, Pelindo, Krakatau Steel, Biofarma, PLN, Pupuk Indonesia, Angkasa Pura, Pertamina, ASDP Ferry and InJourney, Danareksa, Jasa Marga, and Waskita..

"We also see that it is hoped that this will continue, because initially we did this according to our discussions with other ASEAN countries, and after that it is hoped that a joint taskforce will be formed to implement these programs. So, we will not stop here, business matching, but we will also form a task force whose members are from each country to follow up on existing projects, which have been initiated by the Indonesian government involving several ministries," he concluded.

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For further information, please contact:

Director General of Public Information and Communication, Ministry of Communication and Informatics – Usman Kansong (0816785320).

Find more information at http://asean2023.id, https://infopublik.id/kategori/asean-2023, and https://indonesia.go.id/kategori/ragam-asean-2023

SOEs Minister Erick Thohir delivers a speech in the opening of ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF) at Hotel Mulia, Jakarta, Selasa (5/9/2023). 2023 ASEAN Summit Media Center/Risa Krisadhi/pras.