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Published: July 26, 2011 US and Indonesia Broadens and Deepens Relationship
Today, Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Natalegawa co-chaired the second Joint Commission meeting under the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership in Bali, Indonesia, highlighting our broadening and deepening relationship as reflected in our joint initiatives, some of which include:
Political/Security Cooperation:
With strong Indonesian and ASEAN support, the United States joined the East Asia Summit (EAS). President Obama expects to attend the November 2011 EAS hosted by Indonesia.
Military-to-military cooperation is advancing under our 2010 Defense Framework Arrangement, as exemplified by the approximately 140 theater security cooperative activities that U.S. Pacific Command and the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) have planned for FY11. Joint activities that focus on maritime security, peacekeeping, natural disaster response, and humanitarian assistance have also been developed.
The United States and Indonesia agreed to co-chair the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM+) Counterterrorism Experts Working Group.
The U.S. Department of Justice Maritime Security Project has provided 19 Marine Police Special Boat Unit patrol boats, which the Indonesian Marine Police have deployed throughout the archipelago.
Economic/Development Cooperation:
Cooperation on entrepreneurship continues through the newly established Global Entrepreneurship Program Indonesia (GEPI), visits by U.S. entrepreneurs, and Indonesia's hosting of the Regional Entrepreneurship Summit (RES) July 22-24 in Bali as a follow-on to President Obama's Entrepreneurship Summit last year.
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) held a successful annual investment conference in Jakarta in May 2011, attended by more than 100 U.S. companies.
In May the Energy Investment Roundtable, organized by the Department of Energy, highlighted opportunities for investment in the oil and gas as well as renewable energy sectors in Indonesia. The Department of Energy is planning a second Investment Roundtable for the fall.
A Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact for Indonesia likely to total approximately $600 million over five years is in the final stages of development, and aims to reduce poverty through economic growth by making investments in environmentally sustainable "green prosperity," education, governance and health initiatives.
The United States and Indonesia intend to complete a second Tropical Forest Conservation Act Agreement (TFCA) before September 30, and plans to contribute approximately $20 million towards this agreement that authorizes reduction and redirection of certain debt payments to support tropical forest conservation.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Indonesia's Ministry of Environment signed an MOU in June 2011, expanding environmental cooperation, and formalizing cooperation on "Breathe Easy, Jakarta" to improve air quality and protect public health.
USAID initiated new climate and environment initiatives in forestry, marine conservation and low emissions development for sustainable landscapes under our $136 million SOLUSI framework of cooperation with Indonesia.
Indonesian business leaders joined the Partnership for a New Beginning, a collection of public-private partnerships building engagement between the United States and local communities in support of President Obama's vision for a New Beginning.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture will cooperate to facilitate the development and use of new technology through collaborative meetings and research between our respective agricultural universities and greater engagement between private sector associations.
Socio-Cultural/Educational/S&T Cooperation:
The U.S. Department of State is supporting a record number of Indonesians and Americans to participate in its student and faculty exchanges, including the new $15 million five-year Fulbright Indonesia Research, Science and Technology (FIRST) Program and a significant expansion of the Community College Initiative Program.
The State Department has also doubled its support for English language learning in Indonesia, including the English Access Microscholarship Program, and is sending more Americans to Indonesia to study Indonesian through its Critical Language Scholarship Program.
U.S. Department of Commerce sent the largest-ever higher education mission to Jakarta with more than 56 participating colleges and universities in May 2011 and attracting 10,000 students and family members at an education fair. Another 38 U.S. universities participated in the Department of State's EducationUSA Spring Fair in multiple Indonesian cities.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will host a U.S.-Indonesia summit on higher education this fall with participation from Indonesian Minister of National Education Muhammad Nuh.
USAID announced several new U.S.-Indonesia University Partnerships to connect students, scholars, and institutions in both countries. USAID is planning at least 25 partnerships over the next five years.
During his third trip to Indonesia, U.S. Science Envoy Dr. Bruce Alberts launched the U.S.-Indonesia Frontiers of Science designed to foster scientific collaboration between the next generation of Indonesian and American science leaders.
Under the U.S.-Indonesia Science and Technology Agreement that came into force this year, we are working to launch a new high-level science dialogue.
Source: U.S. Department of State
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