Indonesia targets US$4bn in trade with NZ

The Prime Minister alongside Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Lembong witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in aviation, e-commerce and electricity.

“It is clear there is a range of opportunities for New Zealand and Indonesia to work together”, Mr Key said. In a press release, New Zealand’s Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty has reinforced that the deteriorating human rights situation in West Papua must be at the top of the talk’s agenda.

Mr Key said President Joko Widodo and his officials raised the issue of human rights and West Papua before he did.

There, he will visit Baba Rafi, an Indonesian entrepreneur.

Indonesia’s increasing trade with New Zealand faced a hurdle in 2015 when total exports and imports between the two countries fell by 18.5 percent to $1.1 billion from a year earlier on the back of uncertainties in the global economy.

President Widodo described the meeting as “productive and friendly” while Mr Key said there was “real warmth” in the relationship.

As many as 16 prisoners could soon face Indonesia’s firing squad, after a round of executions was suspended until after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Run in conjunction with the Indonesian Directorate General of Livestock Farming, the participants learn best-practice dairy farming techniques through on-farm training sessions in Indonesia and during a 12 week visit to New Zealand.

Speaking shortly after his arrival in Jakarta, Key confirmed New Zealand’s “deep opposition to the death penalty” was among a range of human rights issues he meant to discuss with Widodo.

Executions were relatively popular within Indonesia, de Ronde said, and Widodo had executed drug traffickers in an attempt to appear tough on crime. “I think that’s been a long-standing New Zealand Government position – that we recognise territorial rights – but on the broader issue of human rights, we said to them that’s a matter that’s always of great concern to New Zealanders”.

Key is visiting Indonesia from 17-20 July to discuss economic cooperation; from tourism and edition to cattle breeding and fresh produce trade.