News from Berlin

Germany and Indonesia Boosting Maritime Cooperation

October 30th, 2014
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News From Berlin – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier is going on an official 2-day visit to Indonesia’s capital on November 2nd. He aims to boost the maritime partnership and to stronger maritime defense cooperation between Germany, the third-largest arms exporter in the world, and Indonesia, a country that President Joko Widodo has envisioned as the world’s upcoming maritime axis. Steinmeier will also use this visit as an opportunity to talk to Indonesian business people, Indonesian Civil Society and also Joko Widodo, the President of Indonesia.

<[>The Foreign Minister will hold talks with his Indonesian counterpart Retno LP Marsudi, who has been assigned to materialize the President’s maritime vision. "Germany has a lot to offer. Our shipyards, supply industries, ocean carriers and logistic companies are strong players and are ready to get more actively involved in Indonesia," the German Ambassador to Indonesia Georg Witschel said to the press. The Jakartapost reports that the maritime agenda and the investment in port-infrastructure would offer opportunities for increased economic relations in the 62-year-old diplomatic tie between Indonesia and Germany. Germany is also one of Indonesia's top 10 trading partners.

Academicians and a delegation of 15 high-ranking business players will accompany Steinmeier in Indonesia. The delegation will comprise of representatives of leading German companies, including steel producer and automotive industry firm ThussenKrupp AG, shipyard companies Meer Werft GmbH and Hamburg Port, the engineering firm Ferrostaal AG and the European aerospace giant Airbus firm.

On the second day of his official visit, the Foreign Minister Steinmeier has been invited as a guest speaker, along with the Indonesian Economic Minister Sofyan Djalil, at a conference in Jakarta. This conference has been organized by the German-Indonesian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The main theme of the event is “Germany and Indonesia Strategic Partnership and Economic Policy of the New Indonesia Government”.

News From Berlin – Berlin Global