Recommendation 65

HM Government Accepted

161. The Government agrees that the importance of the UK’s relationship with Indonesia needs to be underpinned by sufficient diplomatic capacity and political engagement. Since the Integrated Review was published in March 2021, we have increased our diplomatic capacity in Indonesia in line with our strategic ambition for the relationship in this twenty-first century emerging giant. Our increased diplomatic presence in Indonesia is on a par with our key European partners. This diplomatic capacity on the ground has been backed by an increase in ministerial engagement including four Foreign Secretary visits to Indonesia in the last two years, most recently in July 2023. The Prime Minister has met Indonesian President Joko Widodo twice in the last 12 months. Ministerial engagement has expanded in a wide range of other areas, including recent visits to Jakarta by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Energy Security Minister. 162. This increased engagement has helped drive progress against the UK-Indonesia Roadmap signed in 2022. This includes a 30% increase in trade since 2022, supported by our new Joint Economic and Trade Committee and Investment Memorandum of Understanding; the UK’s commitment to Indonesia’s net zero future through the $20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership; and a new Memorandum of Understanding on Cyber Security Cooperation. 163. The Government agrees that the UK should maintain and develop cooperation with Indonesia including through multilateral fora. We worked closely with Indonesia to support their G20 Presidency in 2022 and the UK Mission to ASEAN worked closely with Indonesia to support their objectives as ASEAN Chair in 2023. At the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), the UK used our chairmanship of the annual Ministerial Council Meeting in June 2023 to promote the OECD’s engagement with the Indo-Pacific region and has subsequently welcomed Indonesia’s interest in joining the OECD.