Vice Chairperson of the House Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation, Achmad Hafisz Tohir (second right), and the delegation of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea pose for pictures after a meeting at Nusantara III Building, parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (3/1/2023). Photo: Runi/Man
The Indonesian House Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation (BKSAP) on Tuesday (3/1/2023) received the visit of the delegation of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea at Nusantara III Building, parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta in a bid to strengthen Indonesia-South Korea bilateral relation that has lasted for the last 50 years, particularly in improving transportation and infrastructure sectors. During the meeting, the South Korean delegation expressed its interest for investment cooperation in transportation and infrastructure in Indonesia by using leading-edge technology.
Vice Chairperson of the House Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation, Achmad Hafisz Tohir, told Parlementaria after the meeting that Indonesia welcomed South Korea’s offer of cooperation, saying Indonesia has enormous untapped potential in the forms of business-to-business, business to government, and Public Private Partnership (PPP).
“It is impossible for Indonesia to finance its infrastructure with the state budget entirely,” Tohir said. “As we all know, the government must return the state budget deficit ceiling to less than 3 percent of the GDP in 2023. For this, Indonesia will need more inbound investment. South Korea’s offer for investment and technology cooperation is in line with this need. As a long time strategic partner, Indonesia welcomes the offer considering the many untapped potentials in business to business, business to government, and PPP.” he said.
Tohir also appreciated South Korea as one of the Asian countries with the most advanced transportation technology along with Japan and China. The National Mandate Party (PAN) politician also said South Korea had undergone the experience of relocating its administrative capital from Seoul to Sejong ten years ago, saying this provides a model for Indonesia to relocate its capital from Jakarta to IKN Nusantara in East Kalimantan Province.
“That’s the point that we highlighted. The IKN will not be possible unless it has the additional investment due to the limited state budget. The actual investment that South Korea is offering is in railway technology,” he said. “Although Indonesia’s state-owned railway company (KAI) can make the cars, only a few countries can make the locomotive, one of which is South Korea. We expect it will bring South Korea’s investment to Indonesia, not only through technology transfer but also the capital. Indonesia expects to become the fifth-largest economy in the world in 2035. This can be achieved through cooperation with other countries.”
Meanwhile, Head of South Korea’s delegation. Hong Kee Won said Indonesia played an important role in parliamentary diplomacy and made a significant contribution to world peace, as showcased by the successful events of the 144th IPU General Assembly and P20 Speaker’s Summit held last year. The delegation also conveyed its support for Indonesia’s chairmanship in ASEAN and MIKTA this year.
Indonesia’s chairmanship is expected to deliver good results and benefits at regional and international levels. South Korea also supports Indonesia’s role in the peace-making process in Korean Peninsula, where the Indonesian House has established parliamentary friendship groups with South Korea and North Korea, so Indonesia is expected to become the mediator for both sides. The delegation also announced the Speaker of the South Korea National Assembly's plan to visit Indonesia in mid-January 2023.
Among those joining the meeting were member of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee Han Junho, Lee Soyoung, Program Coordinator Lee Dongkyu, and representatives of the Republic of Korea Embassy in Indonesia Legislative Attache Yoon Sung Min, First Secretary of Infrastructure and Transportation Kim Dongjin, and interpreter Choi Seo Hye. (pun/aha-mut)