Indonesian VP, Singapore President discuss economic cooperation

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian VP Ma’ruf Amin met Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in Singapore on Monday to discuss the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the economic and health sectors.

During the meeting, Amin conveyed President Joko Widodo’s warm greetings and good wishes to Shanmugaratnam on his election as the 9th President of Singapore.

“I congratulate His Excellency on being elected as the President of Singapore,” Amin told Shanmugaratnam at the Singapore Presidential Palace on Monday.

During their meeting, the two leaders discussed plans to bolster relations by deepening cooperation in several strategic sectors, including the economic sector.

“Singapore is Indonesia’s main trading and investment partner. As of September 2023, investment realization reached US$12.1 billion, while total trade reached US$22 billion,” he noted.

VP Amin expressed the hope that the economic partnership between Indonesia and Singapore would be strengthened through the sharia economic and halal product cooperation.

Home to the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia is aiming to become a global halal center supported by three Halal Industrial Zones (KIH) in Bintan, Serang, and Sidoarjo.

Amin also praised the enthusiasm of Singaporean entrepreneurs who participated in the Singapore Health Service Business Mission to Indonesia last October. He further said he hoped that Singaporean investors would take part in the development of the Sanur Health Special Economic Zone in Bali.

“I hope that the business mission can be followed up soon,” he added.

He then highlighted ongoing bilateral cooperations in education and tourism, such as the reactivation of the Indonesia-Singapore Joint Working Group on Education.

“Cooperation opportunities in the tourism sector are wide open,” he said, highlighting the need to harmonize cruise protocols to support tourism.