Jokowi and Sri Lankan PM Discuss Anti-Terrorism, Procuring Indonesian Goods
Jakarta. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in an effort to strengthen Indonesia's bilateral partnership with Sri Lanka, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta on Wednesday (03/08).
Discussions between Jokowi and Wickremesinghe focused on anti-terrorism and exporting Indonesian-made train carriages to Sri Lanka.
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, who was also at the meeting, said that both leaders agreed to enhance anti-terrorism and anti-extremism efforts.
“With every discussion on countering extremism, radicalism and terrorism, Indonesia is always at the forefront to [foster] partnerships, being the largest Muslim country in the world and at the same being tolerant and capable of practicing moderate Islam,” Retno said in a statement.
Transportation
Jokowi also personally addressed the media saying that he had offered to export Indonesian-made train wagons to Sri Lanka, adding that Indonesia is already currently exporting its products to Bangladesh through state-owned train manufacturer, Industri Kereta Api (INKA).
“We are sending train wagons from INKA to Bangladesh. Now, we have pitched the idea to Sri Lankan [officials], requesting that Prime Minister Ranil give attention to Indonesian products and he seems to have given the green light,” Jokowi said.
The president said this marks the first step in Indonesia’s efforts to penetrate potential foreign markets in exporting Indonesian goods, with the hope to penetrate larger markets in the future.
“We are in a position to study several potential countries [to export Indonesian goods], but we have never penetrated their markets, and this is what we have begun to do,” Jokowi explained.
In May this year, Jokowi met with Sri Lankan President, Maithripala Sirisena, during a work visit to Japan, where Jokowi discussed Indonesia’s interest to participate in Sri Lanka’s economic development, with particular interest in Sri Lanka procuring Indonesian-made train carriages.
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