Indonesia, Denmark Signed Two Agreements

TheIndonesia.co - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her Danish counterpart Jeppe Kofod signed an agreement on the "Indonesia-Denmark Action Plan: Sustainable Strategic Partnership for the Future for the 2021-2024 Period" and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Infrastructure Project Financing. In a press conference, Foreign Minister Retno said she believed that the updated points of the agreement would result in more concrete collaboration between the two countries.

“I and Minister Kofod agreed to strengthen cooperation to accelerate economic recovery,” Retno said on Monday, November 22, 2021. “Denmark is Indonesia's second-largest partner in the Nordic region for trade, investment, and tourism," she said.

Prior to the pandemic, the value of the Indonesia-Denmark sustainable palm oil trade increased from US$39.2 million in 2015 to US$73.5 million (approximately Rp1 trillion) in 2019. According to Retno, the two countries agreed to continue the positive contribution of sustainable palm oil to economic recovery.

“I appreciate Denmark for its support for the elimination of discriminatory treatment of Indonesian agricultural products, particularly palm oil. To further encourage the post-pandemic economic recovery, I really appreciate Denmark's support for the fast completion of the Indonesia-EU CEPA," she said.

Another area of cooperation discussed was capacity building for start-ups, one of which was in the use of information and communication technology (ICT). "In the field of investment cooperation, I hope that the signing of the MoU on Infrastructure Project Financing can be the basis for increasing financial and investment cooperation, especially in the fields of ICT, energy, transportation, and logistics, as well as maritime and defense," said Retno.

Meanwhile, Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said Indonesia is an important partner for Denmark. “We are very happy to be in Indonesia. Indonesia and Denmark are close friends,” said Kofod.

Denmark and Indonesia, he continued, are building partnerships and cooperation in terms of green energy, waste, economy, agriculture, infrastructure, and technology.