Indonesia-Singapore leaders' retreat to discuss IKN development
JAKARTA: Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudihas revealed that the Indonesian and Singapore Leaders' Retreat at the Bogor Palace on April 29 would discuss development in the capital (IKN) Nusantara in East Kalimantan, reported ANTARA news agency.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will later hold a meeting to discuss a plethora of issues, including food security, energy transition, and IKN development, she said.
The discussion will also cover the development of human resources and improvement of skills, talent exchange in the digital sector, and increasing capacity in the health sector, according to her.
"Many Singaporean companies have shown interest in collaborating to invest in IKN, including in the energy transition sector, especially for solar energy," she said in a press statement at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta today (April 26).
Under the agenda for the meeting between President Jokowi and Prime Minister Lee, the two leaders would review the decade-old cooperation carried out and also ensure the continuation of established cooperation and sound relations, said Marsudi.
Lee's visit to Indonesia to attend the Leaders' Retreat was his last trip before handing over the government to the new prime minister.
Similar to President Jokowi, this year will be the last year of his 10 years in office.
Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, who will continue to govern the country, will also be present at the Leaders' Retreat.
"This shows how important bilateral relations between Singapore and Indonesia are," Marsudi pointed out.
Today, she accompanied President Jokowi to receive a courtesy visit from Singaporean Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan at the State Palace, Jakarta, to discuss preparations for the Leaders' Retreat hosted by Indonesia this year.
Last year's Leaders' Retreat between both nations was held in Singapore on March 16. On the occasion, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in emerging sectors, such as the digital economy, sustainability, and human capital development, as well as security. — BERNAMA
TAGS: indonesia, singapore, leaders' retreat, bogor palace, nusantara development