Building Stable, Lasting Partnership
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4 The Japan Times Monday, March 23, 2015 Indonesian president’s visit building stable, profile ofp resident Joko Widodo Born in 1961, Joko Widodo, his entrepreneurial flair lowing his election to the popularly known as Jokowi, was recognized by business high-profile position of gov- grew up in the Central Java associates and he served as ernor of Jakarta. During 2013 city of Solo (Surakarta) as the the head of the newly estab- and early 2014 he was in- lasting partnership eldest of four children and lished branch of the furniture creasingly seen as a potential the only son. as a boy, he manufacturers association PdIP candidate for the Indo- helped his carpenter father from 2002 to 2007. nesian presidential election Yusron Ihza Mahendra graphical proximity has only shared values for peace, sta- collect and cut wood, which his success in this role in 2014. His nomination was aMbassador of IndonesIa enhanced the heart-to-heart bility, prosperity and regional the family sold as part of their prompted his colleagues to announced on March 14, relations that cemented the development that will deepen living. press him to run for mayor 2014. Since the es- foundation of the two na- and widen our economic, se- nevertheless, his family of Solo, one of the most his- The presidential election tablishment of tion’s strong cooperation in curity and maritime partner- assisted him through school toric cities of Central Java. was held on July 9 and a new chapter all walks of life. ship, as well as investment and he continued his edu- he successfully ran for Jokowi was named as pres- in the history The official working visit of cooperation that will foster cation in the Forestry Fac- mayor in Solo in 2005 and ident-elect on July 22. Joko of Indonesia- Indonesian President Joko cultural and people-to-people ulty of the country’s top-tier in 2010. Widodo is the first Indone- Japan rela- Widodo and his wife Hj. Iriana exchanges. It will be a new Gadjah Mada University in It was his performance as sian president not to come tions back in Joko Widodo to Japan is high level of partnership that deliv- yogyakarta and graduated mayor of Solo that he first from the military or politi- 1958, the two time to bolster the already ers a vibrant message and as- with a degree in forestry in gained attention for his abil- cal elite. countries have strong relations to a new level piration to youth across the 1985. ity to resolve issues such as on Oct. 20, Jokowi took the gained not only a strong of partnership. We aim at fur- two nations. Jokowi joined the forestry floods, dirty streets and oath of office as the seventh sense of friendship, but also ther strengthening a partner- It is in our strongest belief service of a state enterprise in slums. He was nominated by president of the Republic of of partnership. The geo- ship that will build upon that the visit and the new part- aceh before returning to Solo the Indonesian democratic Indonesia at a ceremony held nership will further tie the two in 1989 to work with his uncle Party of Struggle (PdIP) to at the parliament in Jakarta countries’ closeness within and learn the furniture busi- run for governor of Jakarta. and made a call for national President’s Japan visit agenda the hearts and minds of our ness from design to delivery. he succeeded in ousting the reconciliation and unity as peoples and will make both he then branched out on his favored incumbent in the he was sworn in. the president of the republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo Indonesia and Japan stronger own and soon established a 2012 elections. he is married to Iriana and his wife Hj. Iriana Joko Widodo are paying an official and more resilient in embrac- thriving furniture business Jokowi’s popularity across Joko Widodo and has two working visit to Japan through March 25. ing both the opportunities with a strong focus on exports. Indonesia rose sharply fol- sons and one daughter. during his stay in Japan, the president and his wife are and challenges presented in scheduled to make a state call on their Majesties emperor this global world. President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo ap akihito and empress Michiko, who will host a court Lun- cheon in honor of the president and his wife. prime Minis- ter shinzo abe will hold a summit meeting to discuss Many years of close relations various issues, including security and economic coopera- tion, and host a dinner for the president. this is the first visit to Japan for the president since as- Yasuo fukuda special envoy of the Japanese Japan’s investment in Indone- suming the post last october. presIdent, Japan IndonesIa government. sia reached $4.7 billion in assocIatIon, Inc., forMer prime Jokowi is issuing a clarion 2013, which made Japan the minIster call to transform Indonesia largest investor in the country. into a maritime nation and is Japan’s investment in Indone- on behalf of tackling key issues such as sia, including the additional the Japan In- rural development, correction spending on factories and donesia asso- of disparities, export expan- equipment, is greatly increas- ciation, as well sion and infrastructure im- ing and a growing number of as all the peo- provement. I hope that Japanese companies are ple of Japan, I Indonesia, a major power in newly setting up operations in would like to Southeast Asia, will continue Indonesia. Japanese firms extend my to develop under the leader- based in Indonesia are ex- warmest wel- ship of Jokowi. pected to boost exports and come to President of the Re- Japan and Indonesia are the stable economic develop- public of Indonesia Joko “strategic partners” who have ment of Indonesia will be cru- Widodo, better known as enjoyed long years of friendly cial for the development of Jokowi, on the occasion of his relations. Both at the govern- Japan as well. first visit to Japan as the coun- mental and private levels, the I believe that Jokowi’s visit try’s leader. two countries have cultivated to Japan will further strength- Jokowi was elected by a di- amicable ties in various areas en bilateral ties and deepen rect vote in the presidential such as politics, security, mutually beneficial relations. Indonesian President Joko Widodo meets with Prime Minister election last July and took of- economy, culture and people- I sincerely extend my best Shinzo Abe on Nov. 10 in Beijing on the sidelines of the APEC fice in October. I attended his to-people exchanges. Espe- wishes for Jokowi’s productive Indonesian President Joko Widodo waves to the crowd during a parade following his Summit Meeting. cabInet public reLatIons offIce swearing-in ceremony as a cially on the economic front, and fruitful stay in Japan. inauguration in Jakarta on Oct. 20. ap PAGE: 4 The Japan Times Monday, March 23, 2015 5 Indonesian president’s visit Country a key piece of Japan’s supply chains indonesia offers Shigeo Ohyagi and the regional Comprehensive economic Chairman, Japan-indOneSia EconOmiC partnership will reach a trade deal. in this wide range of COmmittee, Keidanren (Japan BuSiness context, the role indonesia plays in South- FederatiOn); Chairman, memBer of the board, east asia has become extremely important. teiJin ltd. especially, indonesia is assuming in- diversity to tourists creasing importance as a hub of supply i would like to express my chains for Japanese manufacturers. Japan heartfelt welcome to indo- always ranks near the top in foreign direct The Republic of Indonesia is ard to the Orangutan and the nesian president Joko investment in indonesia, being the top in- the largest archipelago in the Java rhino, to the Sulawesi Widodo, who is currently vestor in 2013 and the second-largest inves- world comprising 13,466 large anoa dwarf buffaloes, to birds visiting Japan. ever since tor in 2014. to further deepen trade and and small tropical islands with exquisite plumage like he took office last October, investment relations between the two fringed with white sandy the cockatoo and the bird of the president has demon- countries, the Japanese business commu- beaches, many still uninhab- paradise. This is also the hab- strated excellent leader- nity hopes to offer active cooperation in in- ited and a number even still itat of the Rafflesia the world’s ship, upholding clear-cut frastructure development and human unnamed. Straddling the largest flower, wild orchids, an policy visions and tackling structural re- resources development in indonesia. equator, situated between the amazing variety of spices, and form of the indonesian economy. the Jap- as part of such cooperation, Keidanren continents of Asia and Austra- aromatic hardwood and a anese business community has great (Japan Business Federation) will send a lia and between the Pacific and large variety of fruit trees. Un- respect for that. delegation of business executives headed the Indian Oceans, it is as wide derwater, scientists have found indonesia is a country that symbolizes by Chairman Sadayuki Sakakibara to indo- as the United States from San in North Sulawesi the prehis- the future of asia, with its abundant re- nesia from april 7 to 9. We hope to have a Francisco to New York, equal- toric coelacanth fish, a “living sources, growing production base and con- discussion on our concrete proposals to ing the distance between Lon- fossil” fish, predating the dino- sumer markets that comprise around 40 smoothly promote investment and the don and Moscow. Indonesia saurs living some 400 million percent of the total population of the challenges on the business environment has a total population of more years ago, while whales mi- aSEAN countries.