President Joko “Jokowi”
Widodo on Thursday (28/6) affirmed Indonesia’s commitment to continue to be a
trusted partner in Timor-Leste ‘s economic development given that Indonesia is
the main trade partner of the country.
“As we may be aware of,
there are 9 state-owned enterprises and approximately 400 enterprises owned by
Indonesian citizens in Timor-Leste. Indonesia’s investment value in Timor-Leste
amounts to more than US$ 595 million,” President Jokowi said during a joint
press statement with President of Timor-Leste Francisco Guterres Lú Olo at
Bogor Presidential Palace, in Bogor, West Java, Thursday (28/6).
Therefore, the two countries
have agreed to start negotiation and enter into an agreement on investment
promotion and protection, as well as sign an agreement on double taxation
avoidance, President Jokowi said.
“I believe the Government of
President Lú Olo’s administration will continue providing legal guarantee and
certainty for Indonesia’s investment,” President Jokowi said.
Indonesia and Timor-Leste
have also agreed to enhance cooperation on connectivity. Several cooperation on
connectivity have been discussed, including on the completion of the
construction of the Motaain bridge connecting Motaain in Indonesia’s East Nusa
Tenggara Province and Batugade in Timor-Leste, and the opening of more flight
routes between the two countries.
“After talks over the past
10 years, we welcome the opening of flight routes from Kupang in East Nusa
Tenggara to Dili in Timor-Leste. For land connectivity, Indonesia’s state-run
bus company Damri Indonesia is ready to improve land connectivity by operating
buses from Kupang to Dili,” the President added.
Furthermore, Indonesia and Timor-Leste
have also agreed to enhance cooperation on the social-cultural field by
intensifying cooperation on education and capacity building. “Indonesia
appreciates the intention of Timor-Leste students and university students to
continue their studies in Indonesia,” President Jokowi concluded.
Accompanying President
Jokowi in the press conference were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal,
and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin
Nasution, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Public Works
and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno,
Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and Minister of Research, Technology and
Higher Education M. Nasir.
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