FM Retno Will Visit US in May to Follow Up on Bilateral Trade Agreement

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is scheduled a visit the United States next month to follow up on a bilateral trade agreement discussed during US Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Jakarta last week.

"I will be heading to [Washington] DC next month to participate in bilateral meetings about the regulation aspects for trade and investments," Retno said on Friday (21/04), as quoted by state news agency Antara.

Retno said she held discussions with other ministers to create a unified Indonesian delegation comprising officials from the ministries of home affairs, industry, agriculture and more to go to Washington.

"This will be a critical issue to discuss, as we are coming from a commitment between leaders. It is important to draw up the implementation immediately," Retno added.

Pence's visit to Indonesia last week yielded more than $10 billion in bilateral agreements between Indonesian and US companies.

Eleven agreements were signed, including for oil and gas giant Exxon Mobil to sell liquefied natural gas to state-owned energy company Pertamina; aerospace and defense company Lockheed Martin to upgrade the Indonesian Air Force's aging F-16 fighter jets; and for General Electric to develop electricity infrastructure in the archipelago.

However, Indonesia is on a list of 16 countries included in an executive order US President Trump signed last month to investigate trade imbalances.

During his visit, Pence said the United States seeks free and fair trade relationships that will spur job creation and economic growth for both countries.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said last week that the two countries are both committed to improve their strategic partnership, which focuses on trade and investment
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