Singapore, Indonesia looking to cooperate in energy, food security: PM Wong
Singapore remains deeply invested in Indonesia’s success, he tells Prabowo in his introductory visit to Jakarta
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Building on the work of their predecessors, the new leaders of Singapore and Indonesia are looking towards being able to "write a new chapter" in their bilateral ties and take the relationship to "even greater heights", Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said during an introductory visit to Jakarta. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION
[JAKARTA] Singapore and Indonesia are looking to cooperate in energy security and sustainability, among several areas aligned to Indonesia’s priorities, the city-state’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said during his introductory visit to Jakarta on Wednesday (Nov 6).
“This can be a new growth engine for both our countries, especially when we realise cross-border energy exports, as well as cross-border carbon capture and storage projects in the coming years,” he said in a joint press conference with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
Speaking in Bahasa Indonesia, Prabowo said they discussed ongoing cooperation projects such as cross-border electricity interconnection, the joint development of green hydrogen in Sumatra, and solar power plants.
PM Wong and Indonesian President Prabowo at the joint press conference on Wednesday afternoon. PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR, ST
Food security is another priority for the largest economy in South-east Asia. Here, both countries are discussing the exchange of best practices and technologies so both sides gain from cooperation in the agriculture and food sectors, said PM Wong.
Prabowo said both leaders agreed to accelerate the completion of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in food security and agricultural technology.
In a separate interview with Singapore media later that day, PM Wong elaborated on how Singapore could lend its expertise in food technology, saying: “It’s not as though we have huge food farms... But we do have some food technology, especially with regard to urban farming or ... how to make some crops more resilient, more productive in terms of yield.”
PM Wong speaking to Singapore media to wrap up his introductory visit to Jakarta. PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR, ST
Beyond the sharing of expertise, the potential MOU may cover food imports and exports, and both parties are working towards a mutual understanding of food standards to spur such trade.
“We import so much of our food, and we will be happy to see how we can continue to diversify our food imports, including importing more food options from Indonesia,” PM Wong told reporters.
Singapore is also happy to support Indonesia’s plans for human capital development, such as through the ramping up of training and exchanges for students, teachers, officials and young professionals, he said.
