Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi has revealed that her ministry is ready to expand its collaboration with the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), led by Erick Thohir, to the energy sector.
"We are also ready to collaborate in the energy sector; so, (after) health, next in the energy sector, and (then) other (areas of) cooperation," Retno Marsudi said in Jakarta on Friday.
According to the Foreign Minister, there has been extensive cooperation and collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of SOEs since the beginning of the year.
A few days ago, Marsudi, accompanied by several teams from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had paid a working visit to Bio Farma and held a discussion with Deputy Minister of SOEs, I Budi Gunadi Sadikin, who is also the CEO of Bio Farma, and his team.
On the occasion, the Deputy Minister of SOEs submitted a long list of collaborations between the two ministries in the field of health, namely, on protective equipment, operating capes, medicines, drug raw materials, cooperation and vaccine development until both parties designed pre-clearance medical information (PCMI).
The collaboration between the two ministries during the pandemic shows that both parties are able to work "beyond business as usual”, the minister said adding, this has led the two ministries to believe that to gain momentum, this synergy must continue to be strengthened and further pursued.
"Once again, we must eliminate barriers, the bureaucratic path must be shortened. Unnecessary bureaucratic pathways need to be removed so that our movement is faster to help accelerate Indonesia's economic recovery," the Foreign Minister stated.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is always ready to continue the strong collaboration with the Ministry of SOEs, and this joint endeavor is expected to benefit the people and the state of Indonesia, she said.
Meanwhile, SOEs Minister Erick Thohir revealed that the Indonesian nation has two advantages— a large market and abundant natural resources. But, it still needs to build its logistics and technology sectors.
"These things must be corrected. We want to immediately realize the things agreed upon," Thohir pointed out.
Thohir said he hoped the efforts of the ministries of SOEs and Foreign Affairs benefit Indonesia.
"It is time for the Indonesian people to be equal and even (rise) greater than other countries," he remarked. (INE)
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