Dwi Aditya Putra, from Tirto.Id, is reporting that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and President of the United States (US) Joe Biden held a bilateral meeting on Monday (14/11/2022.)
A number of new agreements have been made by the two countries to strengthen the strategic partnership that has been developing for a long time.
One of the results of the first agreement is that the two countries have successfully concluded negotiations to launch the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact worth USD 698-million. This is supported by USD 649-million from the United States and USD 49-million dollars from Indonesia.
The Compact will support the development of high quality, climate conscious transport infrastructure in five provinces, mobilize international capital to support Indonesia’s development goals, and build Indonesia’s financial market capacity.
In addition, the MMC Compact will also increase access to finance for women-owned businesses and micro, small and medium enterprises in Indonesia.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation is an independent US government agency that works to reduce global poverty through economic growth. Founded in 2004, the MCC provides grants and assistance with limited terms to countries that meet stringent standards for good governance, from fighting corruption to respecting democratic rights.
Not only that, the two countries also agreed on several points, report Tirto.Id, including the following:
Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Biodiversity
In collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, USAID launched two new programs that will protect Indonesia’s marine biodiversity and critical mangrove ecosystems. Later it is hoped that it will improve the management of fisheries and water conservation areas in a sustainable and fair manner. Then build the resilience of commercial supply chains and communities that depend on fisheries against the impacts of climate change.
Capture of Carbon Emissions
ExxonMobil and Indonesia’s state-owned energy company Pertamina have signed a USD 2.5-billion agreement to further assess the development of a regional Carbon Capture and Sequestration Center in Indonesia. This partnership will enable key industrial sectors to decarbonise, including the refining, chemicals, cement and steel sectors, thereby lowering carbon emissions while creating economic opportunities for Indonesian workers. This agreement will help Indonesia achieve its net-zero ambitions by 2060 or sooner.
Coast Guard Capacity Building
Building on the longstanding cooperation between the United States and the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (BAKAMLA), the United States will now support the BAKAMLA maritime surveillance drone program. US support will enable BAKAMLA to procure drones, pilot training and maintenance which will significantly enhance BAKAMLA’s capabilities regarding maritime domain awareness, maritime law enforcement and combating illegal fishing.
Investing in Food Security and Supply Chains
The US International Development Finance Corporation will invest USD 20-million in Aruna Global Technologies Indonesia. The investment will connect Indonesia’s small-scale rural fishermen to global markets through innovative technology platforms that empower women and marginalized communities, lower food costs, and increase food supply chain resilience in the world’s second largest fishing industry.
Reducing Plastic Pollution
USAID will launch a new initiative to support public-private partnerships to reduce land-based sources of marine plastic pollution, in line with circular economy principles. USAID will partner with local governments, the private sector, and community groups to promote integrated waste management, thereby improving waste collection and treatment and strengthening value chains for recycling.
Environmentally Friendly Transportation
The US Trade and Development Agency launched a new partnership with MRT Jakarta, which manages the capital’s public rail system, to support the public transit system’s transition to renewable energy sources. Investing in Cutting-Edge Energy Technology The US International Development Finance Corporation will support HDF Energy’s investment in Indonesia’s portfolio of green hydrogen projects called renewables. Combining renewable energy with green hydrogen powered batteries and storage to provide stable and reliable power to the grid.
Preserving Biodiversity
USAID plans to launch a new partnership with Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry on the conservation of orangutans and other vulnerable species. Such as elephants, tigers and rhinos in Sumatra and Kalimantan. This partnership will improve conservation data collection, facilitating collaboration between local government, the private sector, and communities. It is expected to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
Support Ports and Fisheries in the Pacific
The United States and Indonesia are committed to partnering to improve port and fisheries administration in the Pacific. Drawing on homeland expertise in port administration and logistics, fisheries, working with Pacific partners, the United States and Indonesia will send technical expertise to the region to support the critical needs of Pacific ports and fisheries.
Education Sector Cooperation
Based on the MoU on bilateral Educational Cooperation signed by the United States and Indonesia in December 2021. The United States has now allocated resources to increase 30-percent of educational guidance centers in the country. Later it is hoped that it will provide new opportunities for Indonesian students to study in the United States. In addition, Peace Corps volunteers as well as scholars and Fulbright educators will return to Indonesia in January 2023, after a years-long hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Innovative Medical Technology
Trials US Trade and Development and GE Healthcare announced plans to co-finance a pilot project to support the Indonesian Ministry of Health (MoH) to develop a national image and data repository (NIDR). Their plan is to create a centralized repository for electronic medical records and a hub-and-spoke network connecting general practitioners in primary care facilities with cardiologists in central hospitals.
Supporting Sustainable Development in Indonesia’s New Capital
The United States will also partner with the Archipelago Capital Authority established by President Jokowi to oversee the relocation of Indonesia’s capital city. It aims to provide project management support and technical assistance in the construction of new capital cities, with a focus on building smart new capitals.
Source: Tirto.Id
Photo: Cabinet Sekretariat of The Republic of Indonesia
