Menlu Retno Meets with Japan’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Discusses Research and Education

the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi
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Indonesia’s government is pushing for digitalization in various ways, one of which is to collaborate with developed countries. On Monday (March 6th), the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu), Retno Marsudi, held a meeting with Japan’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Taro Kono, to accelerate Indonesia’s digital transformation.

“Realization of Japan’s commitment to supporting the development of a 100 Gbps high-speed network for research and education,” she said, as quoted from the official statement of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday (March 7th).

The meeting aimed to seek cooperation with Japan to improve the national program, particularly in digital literacy, innovation, and the support of micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM).

Moreover, Menlu Retno also met with the Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Yohei Sasakawa, to discuss various topics, including leprosy cooperation in Indonesia, as the foundation has been working for a long time in Indonesia to assist in the management of leprosy.

However, due to the pandemic, cooperation has been hindered, and hence, the visit was to enhance the cooperation between Japan and Indonesia in the handling of leprosy. Furthermore, she discussed with the Nippon Foundation the situation in Myanmar.

Additionally, Menlu Retno also met with various Japanese think tanks and academics, such as the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Tokyo University, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, and the University of Hitotsubashi.

They discussed the region’s and the world’s situation and how to enhance the relationship between Indonesia-Japan and ASEAN-Japan.

Besides these meetings, Menlu Retno also visited the new building development of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, which is planned to be completed by the end of this year.

The Indonesian government hopes that the construction of the new building will proceed smoothly so that it can be utilized by the end of the year.

The visit is in line with the Indonesian government’s plan to strengthen Indonesia’s presence and cooperation with Japan in various sectors.