Jakarta: Indonesia, Jordan to Make Greater Use of Strategic Positions in Asean and Middle Eastern Markets
Jakarta. Indonesia and Jordan on Wednesday (04/10) made agreements to step up counterterrorism efforts and increase economic cooperation during a meeting between foreign ministers of the two countries in Amman, Jordan, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
“Economic cooperation between Indonesia and Jordan must make us of the two countries’ strategic positions as gateways to the Asean [Association of the Southeast Asian Nations] and Middle Eastern markets,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in the statement.
In 2016, bilateral trade between Indonesia and Jordan was worth $256 million, which the Ministry said did not reflect progress from the previous year.
During the meeting, Retno and her Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi, agreed they must open up access for more products to thrive in each other’s market.
Retno proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) between the two countries to lower tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. She also touched on the importance of increasing dialogue between Indonesian and Jordanian private sectors to increase cooperation in this field.
On efforts to combat terrorism and radicalism, Indonesia and Jordan agreed to increase cooperation in information and intelligence sharing, curbing terrorism financing, pacifying foreign terrorist fighters (FTF), deradicalization programs, interfaith dialogues and capacity-building.
Retno said negotiations on a memorandum of understanding for these partnerships should begin as soon as possible.
“Increasing capacity of security forces to combat terrorism and radicalism is very important. I invited Jordan’s law enforcement authorities to visit the Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Cooperation [JCLEC],” Retno said.
Retno also held a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the Al-Husseiniyah Palace in Amman, where they discussed the importance of tolerance and continued dialogue between countries to foster stronger cooperation and address global challenges facing the Islamic world.
The minister extended President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s invitation for King Abdullah II to attend and speak at the upcoming Bali Democracy Forum in December.
“The King of Jordan pointedly said the issue of Palestine receives less and less attention from the international community, and will require a collective effort to push it as part of the main agenda at international level,” the Ministry said in a statement.
During her meeting with King Abdullah, Retno also expressed Indonesia’s continued support for Palestine.
Courtesy: Jakarta Globe
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