TimesAsiaNews.com | British Ambassador to ASEAN Jon Lambe expressed his country’s support for Indonesia’s tenure at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the year.
“The UK supports Indonesia as ASEAN Chair on the theme ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth and looks forward to a dynamic year with a variety of activities,” Ambassador Jon Lambe said in a statement delivered by the British Embassy in Jakarta on Thursday (Feb, 2).
Ambassador Lambe explained that since the UK became an ASEAN Dialogue Partner, in the last 25 years, ASEAN-UK cooperation has grown rapidly. He added that under the ASEAN Economic Community, the UK has set several common goals, and this year will focus on delivering capacity-building programmes.
“The UK will bring in experts from leading governments and companies to ASEAN to share expertise and execute capacity building programmes on key issues including infrastruktur.
Meanwhile, UK Export Minister Andrew Bowie, who visited Jakarta on February 1-2, Minister of Communication and Information Johnny G Plate and technology industry leaders to discuss Indonesia’s digital transformation and strengthen relations between the two countries in the field of technology ecosystems.
The meetings were held in preparation for the inaugural UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week which will be held in Jakarta and Bangkok on March 13-17 this year.
The event is an important part of the ASEAN-UK Digital Innovation Partnership and will focus on the promotion and development of digital trade policy.
In addition, coinciding with Indonesia’s chairmanship in ASEAN this year, Minister Bowie also met with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn to discuss ASEAN-UK cooperation in realizing ambitious, dynamic and impactful trade and investment relations. (**)
Adapted from antaranews
