Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked Japan's help on Monday for the Southeast Asian region's energy transition to be accelerated. He voiced his desire for gaining Japan's support during a business gathering attended by at least 78 CEOs of major Japanese corporations on Monday in Tokyo, Japan, as part of the Commemorative Summit of the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
The conference was held in a working lunch format, according to an official statement received here, and was led by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
"In his speech, the President raised three cooperation focuses going forward, including support for energy transition acceleration in the form of easing access to innovative financing and technology transfer," said Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, who accompanied President Widodo to the meeting.
Furthermore, Widodo supported the strengthening of the supply chain to help ASEAN flourish as a worldwide hub for the electric vehicle industry. He also advocated for improved regional economic integration through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership, as well as the continuance of Japan's concrete projects in the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum.
"The role of Japanese businesses through their quality investment is very strategic to support development in the Southeast Asian region," Marsudi told Reuters. Following the business conference, President Widodo and other ASEAN leaders paid a courtesy call to Japan's Emperor, Naruhito.
"The Indonesian President believes that support from the Emperor of Japan will strengthen ASEAN-Japan partnership as trusted partners in realizing a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region," he stated.
President Widodo's final agenda item in Tokyo was a courtesy visit from Fukuda Yasuo, chairperson of the Japan-Indonesia Association (Japinda) and former Japanese prime minister. During the meeting, Widodo expressed his hope that Japinda will support increased Japanese investment and technology transfer, as well as continuing to prioritize cooperation in human resource development.
According to Marsudi, the President also expressed his hope that Japanese corporate players would take advantage of different new accords formed under the framework of the Indonesian - Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA).
"Among other things, there are the elimination of tariffs for Indonesian processed fish products, expansion of banking access, and cooperation through the New MIDEC (Manufacturing Development Industrial Centre), which supports Indonesian industry to become a regional production base," she went on to say.
President Widodo was due to return home from Tokyo on Monday night after three days of activity.