Indonesian Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita (right) held a meeting with Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Kōichi Hagiuda (left). (Photo: Antara)
Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesia and Japan seek to intensifycomprehensive economic cooperation, especially in the automotive and digitaltechnology sectors.
The synergy was strengthened through a meetingbetween Indonesian Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita and JapaneseMinister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Kichi Hagiuda on January 10,Indonesia's Antara news agency reported.
Agus drew attention to several economic cooperationagreements between Indonesia and Japan, including the Indonesia-Japan EconomicPartnership Agreement (IJEPA), which was currently in the stage of generalreview negotiations.
There is also cooperation with the New ManufacturingIndustry Development Center (MIDEC), he remarked.
In addition, Agus noted that the Japanesegovernment had proposed economic cooperation in Asian countries called theAsian Japan Investing for the Future Initiative (AJIF).
Currently, Japan is promoting the AJIF proposal toASEAN member countries for support, he said.
The areas of cooperation proposed by Japan includesupply chain diversification, introducing the development and utilisation ofrenewable energy technology and energy management systems, as well ascooperation in feasibility studies for quality infrastructure.
Japan also seeks to forge cooperation in theapplication of digital technology in all levels of society and the developmentof quality human resources, with the capacity to utilize digital technology.Indonesia also proposed cooperation in implementing industry 4.0 with Japanthrough the New MIDEC programme.
Japan is also keen to further bolster cooperation inthe automotive industry. This technical cooperation project will involvevarious partner institutions in Japan, such as cooperation with JICA and METI.
The automotive industry is one of the most importantsectors and a major contributor to the GDP. Currently, 21 industrial companiesof four-wheeled or more vehicles have a production capacity of 2.35 millionunits per year by absorbing 38,000 direct workers.
The total invested investment reaches 140 trillionRp and provides a source of livelihood for 1.5 million people working alongthe industry value chain./.
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Indonesian Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita (right) held a meeting with Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Kōichi Hagiuda (left). (Photo: Antara) 
