Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Discusses Economic Relations with UK Chancellor

London, MINA — Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani met her British counterpart Philip Hammond in the United Kingdom (UK), to discuss their bilateral relations in the areas of investment, finance and infrastructure financing.

Mulyani heard about the Brexit political process and its possible implications for the British and European economies, as well as the economies of ASEAN countries.

Philip Hammond, who is the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the UK, hoped that the bilateral relations between the UK and Indonesia would become closer, and cooperation would improve between their private sectors.

After the meeting, the two ministers took part in a dinner reception held by the Young Indonesian Professionals Association (YIPA) and the London Stock Exchange, where a public-private dialogue was hosted by the exchange`s Board of Directors and Mark Hoban, Chairman of the International Regulatory Strategy Group (IRSG).

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The dialogue, which was smooth and constructive, concluded that London will continue to be Indonesia`s partner in promoting investment and infrastructure financing, which include two global offshore rupiah bonds – the Komodo Bonds, issued by state-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga and state-owned construction company PT Wijaya Karya at the London Stock Exchange.

The bond investment fund from Komodo Bonds, which has minimum exchange rate risk, can be utilized by both state-owned enterprises in infrastructure development projects in Indonesia.

“Minister Mulyani`s talk on Indonesia`s economic development and tax reform policies, along with the development of Indonesia`s financial and capital markets, provided a positive image of Indonesia. It is important to promote Indonesia within the financial and related professional services industries in the UK,” said Mark Hoban, YIPA`s Executive Director in the UK, to ANTARA London Friday.

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Since 2017, Mulyani has actively supported YIPA in organising the UK-Indonesia Economic Forum initiative, to promote UK-Indonesia business and investment relations through a community of future business leaders. YIPA has hundreds of professional members working for multinational corporations involved in the areas of banking, consultancy, law, technology and strategy in various cities in the UK.

This year, Mulyani was the main speaker of the forum. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)