US commerce secretary to visit RI

Antara News, Monday, May 10, 2010 22:37 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - United States Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and a select group of US business leaders are scheduled to visit Indonesia May 25-26,

According to a press release received here on Monday, the first cabinet-level trade mission of the Obama Administration`s visit to Indonesia was aimed to deepen the commercial and technology partnerships and exchanges that lead to increased trade and investment in clean energy development.

Building a solid foundation for President Obama`s new National Export Initiative and his commitment to creating substantive partnerships with growing economies such as Indonesia, US Commerce Secretary Locke will engage with Indonesian officials and private sector representatives on advancing bilateral trade and to pave the way for Obama`s upcoming visit to Jakarta that will mark a new chapter for US trade and partnership with Indonesia.

Secretary Locke and his staff will lead select American companies on this clean energy mission to assure them of the deep US commitment from the Obama administration to emerging Asian economies and to ask the host countries to open their doors to reliable US partners who can join them in building jobs, economic growth and a better environment in their respective countries.

The delegation will be in Jakarta where Coordinating Minister of Economy Hatta Rajasa will host the Secretary of Commerce and the business leaders to meet with key Indonesian ministers, legislative leaders and private sector representatives. The group is also expected to see President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who is a firm advocate of a clean and secure energy future for Indonesia and a proponent of a meaningful strategic partnership with the US. The group will also be hosted by KADIN, the American Chamber of Commerce and US Ambassador Hume as well as the University of Indonesia.

In speaking about this mission, Secretary Locke said, "America`s economic future will depend on how well it competes to meet the rising global demand for clean energy in the 21st century; the business leaders joining me on this trade mission understand the urgency of that global competition". Locke noted that Indonesia represents a key partner for US companies that is ready to compete in the clean energy and energy efficiency sectors and find mutual benefits in Asia.

The US Ambassador to Indonesia, Cameron Hume, during his presentation at an ASEAN clean energy summit in Manila said last week that Indonesia is to be applauded for its integrity in openly addressing the distortions and losses from subsidies to fossil fuel consumption that divert funds from education, health and defense.

He recognized that Indonesia seeks to balance the social demands for cheap energy with the reality that now they are a net energy importer that like the US they must find the means to efficiently use their rich renewable resources like geothermal, sunshine, geography and their people to embrace cutting edge clean technology tools from the US and locally to achieve a bright future for Indonesians.

Trade directly and indirectly supports millions of jobs globally. Trade and open collaboration in technology transfer, development and use of advanced energy equipment and high level education and skills are an increasingly important part of the knowledge economy and a key component of the Obama Administration`s efforts to create jobs and economic balance in the US and globally.

The administration has stated its commitment to aggressive trade promotion strategies and in March, President Obama issued an executive order creating a new initiative that aims to enhance US trade and international engagement leading to millions of jobs and economic vibrance for the US and its partners.

In addition to Jakarta, the group will visit Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing. The delegation also includes other US economic and trade agencies such as the US Export Import Bank, US Overseas Private Investment Corporation, US Trade Development Agency and US Foreign Commercial Service.

Private firms include Capstone Turbine Corporation, Caterpillar, Echelon Corp., Emerson Electric, General Electric Company, Lockheed Martin Global, Inc., Oshkosh Corporation, Peabody Energy, Pratt & Whitney Power Systems, Inc., and Prime Engineering, Inc.

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Talking science: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (right) welcomes Bruce Alberts, the US special envoy for science and technology, at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday. The meeting was to discuss possible cooperation between the two countries in science and technology matters. Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf