Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi opened and inaugurated the 2nd Indonesia-Latin America and Caribbean Business Forum (INA-LAC) in Jakarta which will take place on hybrid on November 9-11, 2020 with theme Smart Partnership: Refocusing Indonesia and Latin America and The Caribbean Economic Relations in The Time of Pandemic.

The opening of INA-LAC 2020 Business Forum was attended by the Indonesian Minister of Trade; the Governor of Indonesia’s central bank, Bank Indonesia; the Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs; and the Indonesian Deputy Minister of State-owned Enterprises.

The Chilean Foreign Minister representing the Pacific Alliance; the Secretary General of the Central American Integration System; and the Uruguay Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs representing MERCOSUR (South American trade bloc).

At the opening of the forum, the Indonesian Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of Indonesia, Latin America and Caribbean collaboration in the context of joint economic recovery in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to her, the two regions should determine a vision for future cooperation to create economic opportunities.

On that occasion, Foreign Minister Retno officially launched the INA-LAC Business Forum digital platform which features export products from Indonesia, Latin America and Caribbea.

Indonesia also showcases 108 ready-to-offer investment projects with a one-on-one appointment business meeting feature.

Meanwhile, Ngurah Swajaya, Director General of America and Europe at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs underlined the importance of increasing interaction and adaptation by using the latest technology which is applied in the 2020 INA-LAC Business Forum.

The first day of INA-LAC 2020 Business Forum was participated by more than 400 business players as well as a number of stakeholders from the two regions.

In addition to the business meeting on November 9, 2020, various speakers shared their views in panel sessions on topics about exploring cooperation in the digital economy; investment during the pandemic; and Indonesia's connectivity with Latin America and the Caribbean.

Reporting by Indonesia Window