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Prabowo Wants Brazil To Finalize The Indonesia-MERCOSUR CEPA Partnership

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto wants Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to lead the finalization of negotiations on the Indonesia-MERCOSUR Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IM-CEPA) to enhance trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. 

"I welcome your leadership in Mercosur, and we look forward to finalizing the Indonesia-MERCOSUR Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with you," said President Prabowo Subianto during a joint press conference with President Lula da Silva at the Brazilian Presidential Palace, Palácio do Planalto, Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday (July 9). 

The partnership with MERCOSUR is a partnership established with the South American trade bloc, comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Argentina and Brazil are Indonesia's two largest trading partners in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

The President also welcomed President Lula's plan to bring 700 Brazilian businessmen on a reciprocal visit to Indonesia. 

According to Prabowo, this will enable concrete cooperation between Indonesia and Brazil to be realized as soon as possible. 

In his statement, President Prabowo also expressed his desire to foster strong cooperation between the two countries through Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund (SWF), BPI Danantara Indonesia. 

"We will also foster strong cooperation between the two countries through our sovereign wealth fund, Danantara," Prabowo said. 

Regarding cooperation in the energy transition sector, President Prabowo stated that the Brazilian government has welcomed Indonesia's plan to send more technical teams to study technology and modernization in the agricultural sector and renewable energy development. 

On that occasion, President Prabowo emphasized Indonesia's commitment to achieving 100 percent renewable energy within the next ten years. 

"The target is, of course, 2040, but my experts say we can achieve it much faster. Again, we see Brazil's success in developing biofuels. And I think we are determined to catch up with the progress Brazil has made," said President Prabowo. 

President Prabowo also emphasized that food security and self-sufficiency are crucial for Indonesia. 

Therefore, President Prabowo also praised Brazil's free lunch program for schoolchildren, Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar (PNAE), as a model program that the Indonesian government is emulating through its Free Nutritious Meals (MBG). 

"We are currently implementing an ambitious program to provide free nutritious meals for children and pregnant women in Indonesia, and our target is 82.9 million servings per day by December 2025," said the President.

Tag: Lula Da Silva MERCOSUR Prabowo Subianto