JAKARTA (ANTARA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) discussed cooperation in developing a financial centre in Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi announced this at a press conference after accompanying President Joko Widodo on Wednesday to meet in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
He said the financial centre plans were contained in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Indonesia’s Minister of Public Works and Public Housing and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
“After the signing of the memorandum, a technical delegation will visit and begin discussions on preparations for cooperation,” Marsudi said.
She noted that the second topic discussed by the two leaders was cooperation in developing the nickel raw materials industry.
Indonesia, which has large nickel reserves, has developed a nickel downstream ecosystem, particularly for batteries and electric vehicles (EVs).
“President Jokowi called on the UAE to invest in the EV sector from upstream to downstream,” Marsudi said.
In addition to the face-to-face meeting, the two leaders also held bilateral talks and witnessed the presentation of eight outcomes of the agreement.
- A memorandum of understanding on tourism and air transport between the Indonesian Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises and United Arab Emirates property developer Eagle Hills.
- Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a financial centre in Nusantara signed between the Authority for Nusantara Capital Region (OIKN) and the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority.
- Memorandum of Understanding on Nuclear Energy between the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and Emirates Nuclear Energy (ENEC).
- Memorandum of Understanding on Payment Systems between Bank Indonesia (BI) and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (UAECB).
- Memorandum of Understanding on Public Financial Management between the Ministries of Finance of Indonesia and the UAE.
- Framework Agreement on the Transfer of Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Anti-Submarine Warfare Technology between PT Dirgantara Indonesia and PAL Aerospace.
- A memorandum of understanding was signed between PLN Icon+ and the UAE’s national renewable energy company for a joint assessment and commercial and industrial study of rooftop solar installations in Indonesia.
- Memorandum of Understanding between the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Marine Investment and the UAE’s Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund on the development of the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Joko Widodo International Mangrove Research Centre in Bali.
During his visit to the UAE, President Jokowi was also awarded the Order of Zayed, a civilian honour, by the UAE President.
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