Indonesia, Canada eye stronger infrastructure cooperation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) highlighted significant opportunities for Indonesia-Canada cooperation in infrastructure and regional development.

"We see Canada as a committed, capable, and reliable partner. We hope that cooperation in infrastructure and sustainable development will become one of the main pillars of Indonesia-Canada relations going forward," AHY said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to him, Indonesia continues to advance infrastructure development aimed not only at expanding physical infrastructure but also at improving interregional connectivity, enhancing regional competitiveness, promoting equitable development, and strengthening national resilience.

The minister also believes that ties between the two countries have evolved beyond a traditional government-to-government relationship.

The partnership between the two countries is increasingly focused on concrete, trust-based cooperation that delivers tangible benefits for their people, he remarked.

"I see Canada as a trusted friend of Indonesia and a strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region. A relationship built on patience, mutual respect, and a long-term orientation is an important foundation for the partnership between the two countries," the minister noted.

Earlier, AHY received a courtesy call from the Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, H.E. Jess Dutton.

The meeting reaffirmed the two countries' commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership, particularly in infrastructure, investment, and sustainable development.

One of the main topics discussed during the meeting was the acceleration of the implementation of the Indonesia–Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA), expected to expand opportunities for trade, investment, and economic collaboration between the two countries.

"The implementation of the CEPA will be a crucial stage in bilateral economic cooperation. Agreements between the two countries will provide optimal benefits if accompanied by real collaboration between businesses, investors, institutions, and the community," AHY conveyed.

Furthermore, the two sides also exchanged views on potential cooperation in water management, a strategic sector supporting sustainable infrastructure development in Indonesia.

AHY welcomed Canada's continued involvement in Indonesia's development efforts, including through cooperation between Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA).

He sees this collaboration as having the potential to create investment opportunities in various strategic sectors, such as infrastructure, clean energy, renewable energy, and other areas supporting sustainable development.

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Translator: Suharsana Aji C, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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