KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 — The development of Indonesia’s new capital city Nusantara provides an opportunity for Malaysia and Indonesia to enhance economic ties through mutual collaboration in complementary economic sectors, said the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti).
Secretary general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali said Miti has been able to ascertain that the development of the new capital presents an array of opportunities in infrastructure development, supply materials and support services.
“Malaysia has a keen interest in a broad range of areas such as renewable energy, construction, healthcare, eco-tourism, smart and next-gen mobility and property development,” he said in a statement today.
Earlier, Miti hosted a town hall session on the development of Nusantara and shared the latest updates on the status and development progress of the capital city, particularly focusing on projects in their different phases and the types of collaboration with local Indonesian players.
In August 2019, President Joko Widodo announced that the capital of Indonesia will be moved from Jakarta on Java island to the forested East Kalimantan province to ensure more equitable development and address overpopulation in the country’s most populous island.
Lokman Hakim said the long-lasting partnership between Malaysia and Indonesia has created jobs, investment and promising opportunities for both economies.
“In the first half of 2022, total trade with Indonesia stood at US$14.33 billion (RM64.55 billion), an increase of 37.9 per cent, from US$10.39 billion (RM46.80 billion) in the same period of 2021.
“Acknowledging the strong economic and bilateral ties between the two countries, Malaysia is looking into identifying further potential opportunities for collaboration in Nusantara,” he added.
Prior to the session today, Miti had organised numerous engagements with stakeholders both in Malaysia and Indonesia in discussing Malaysia’s participation in Nusantara.
The delegation from Indonesia was led by Public Works and Public Housing Minister M. Basuki Hadimuljono, accompanied by government officials from Jakarta including officials of the Indonesian Embassy based in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Meanwhile, a total of more than 200 attendees, representing the government, financial institutions, officials from Sabah and Sarawak and the private sector attended the session.
— Bernama
