PM's visit to Jakarta sets to boost collaboration, economic ties

Datuk Seri Najib Razak's three-day working visit here for back-to-back meetings with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, as well as other heads of state, will further boost collaboration and economic ties between the two countries.

The prime minister will attend the 11th Annual Consultations between Malaysia and Indonesia on Monday, followed by the three-day 12th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) from Tuesday.

Datuk Seri Najib, who is also Finance Minister, will have a tight schedule as several bilateral meetings have been lined-up for him to discuss various bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The annual consultation will mark the first meeting between Datuk Seri Najib and Joko Widodo, fondly known as Jokowi, under the annual consultation framework.

Both leaders will touch on economic cooperation, including energy, as well boundary, labour (including maid), and haze issues, Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim told Malaysian journalists covering Datuk Seri Najib's visit here today.

It will be the first annual consultation involving Datuk Seri Najib and Jokowi since the latter assumed presidency in 2014. The previous one between both countries was held here in Jakarta on Dec 19, 2013.

The two leaders will also witness the signing of an agreement between Bank Negara Malaysia and the Financial Services Authority of Indonesia under the ASEAN Banking Integration Framework besides an agreement between the Indonesian government and the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) on the setting up of the CPOPC Secretariat.

The prime minister will also meet the Malaysian diaspora, including students at the Malaysian Embassy here over dinner after the annual consultation.

Datuk Seri Najib is scheduled to deliver a special address at the 12th WEIF themed 'Decentralising Growth, Empowering Business' as patron following its opening by Jokowi.

Zahrain said several bilateral meetings between the prime minister and heads of state from Guinea, Sri Lanka, Jordan and Tajikistan had also been arrayed in conjunction with the WIEF.

The prime minister is also scheduled to attend the pre-launch the Global Entrepreneurship Community (GECommunity) which was initiated by the Finance Ministry.

Datuk Seri Najib, who will be arriving here with wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor today, will also witness the exchange of memoranda of understanding and agreements between Malaysia and several international companies.

At the annual consultation, Datuk Seri Najib will be accompanied by several ministers, including Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz are expected to attend the 12th WIEF.