Minister of Knowledge Economy Choi Joong-Kyung traveled to Bali last week to discuss bilateral economic ties. Indonesia is moving forward with the "Master Plan on the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development," an initiative to advance its economy with Korea as a close partner. The visit was a follow-up to a meeting between the national leaders of both countries, which took place in December.
Government officials and business leaders from the two countries gathered for the first meeting of a new joint working-level task force to discuss promising areas for cooperation and plan joint projects. The meeting focused on seven sectors that feature prominently in Indonesia's Master Plan: trade and investment, industry, energy and resources, construction and infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries, defense, and finance.
The two countries signed nine memorandums of understanding in such areas as hydroelectricity, photovoltaic energy, shipbuilding, textile machinery and industrial technology transfer. An intergovernmental MOU outlines how the two sides will work together to implement Indonesia's Master Plan. Minister Choi said the MOUs were the first step toward the realization of the two national leaders' forward-looking vision.
Minister Choi proposed what he called a "two-track approach" to the Master Plan-one for policymakers and the other for businesses. "Koreans are known for a 'cepat cepat' culture-it's in our blood to do things well and fast," the Minister said. "We will take this 'cepat cepat' approach to make Indonesia the economic powerhouse in this region and beyond." In the Indonesian language, the word "cepat" means "fast."
For details on the Minister's two-track approach, please see the full text of the speech dated May 23. Minister Choi also had a separate meeting with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa. On the following day, the Minister traveled to Jakarta to visit President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
