Jakarta – To strengthen cooperation that has been going for 40 years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of Colombia have held the first Political Consultations Meeting virtually on 3 November 2020 at the High Official level.
“The meeting was driven by the desire of the two countries to strengthen cooperation in the multi-dimensional challenges that the world is currently facing,” said the Director General for American and European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Ngurah Swajaya, as the Head of the Indonesian Delegation. This was also confirmed by the Colombian delegation led by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Francisco Javier Echeverri.
“Colombia values this consultation meeting as an important landmark in entering 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries,” added the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. In order to promote cooperation, several important cooperation was agreed upon.
This meeting was a follow-up to the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries on August 5, which also signed the Visa Exemption Agreement for Ordinary Passport Holders to increase economic and tourism interaction. At this Political Consultation meeting, several cooperation was agreed to be increased, The health sector, in particular the exchange of information to strengthen public health resilience, including the development of tele-medicines, increase in high-level visits, anti-narcotics, agriculture, maritime affairs and fisheries, culture and sports and creative industry and diplomatic education.
“We also agreed that trade and investment between the two countries will be increased through various efforts, including the idea of making a preferential trade agreement to increase market access for each country,” said Ngurah Swajaya. The Indonesian delegation also explained the Government’s breakthrough efforts in simplifying regulations, improving business conditions and increasing Indonesia’s competitiveness.
The two delegations also discussed cooperation within the framework of regional organizations, namely in ASEAN and in the Pacific Alliance. The head of the Colombian delegation also confirmed the participation of Colombian entrepreneurs in the Indonesia-Latin America and the Caribbean (INA-LAC) Business Forum 2020 which will be held in a hybrid manner by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia on 9-11 November 2020.
Colombia is Indonesia’s 7th largest trading partner in the Latin America and Caribbean region, with a trade value of US $ 152 million in 2019. The two countries commenced their diplomatic relations on 15 September 1980. The Political Consultations will be held regularly every year.
Anang Fadhilah
