Jakarta, The Indonesia Post – Indonesia invites Canada to collaborate with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in developing an electric vehicle ecosystem in the region.
Director for ASEAN Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sidharto Suryodipuro said Canada plays an important role in the field of energy transition which can support Southeast Asia as a center of economic growth.
“Canada has significant potential in the field of energy transition, having important mineral resources, such as cobalt and lithium,” Sidharto told the Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste, Nadia Burger, in a seminar held by CSIS in Jakarta, Friday.
“Canada can support and collaborate in the region to develop in certain areas such as the electric vehicle ecosystem, which we are striving for, as well as renewable energy,” continued Sidharto.
Sidharto previously said that ASEAN member countries had started to hold talks regarding the development of the electric vehicle ecosystem in the region. According to him, there are the same views from member countries regarding this matter.
“How do we create an ecosystem (electric vehicles) in a region that has the same or at least similar rules. So every producer has a regional view and not only focuses on the domestic (market),” said Sidharto in a discussion at the Merdeka Barat Forum last week.
According to him, Indonesia has a comparative advantage, maybe even competitive in the field of electric vehicles. As one of the regions with the largest economy in the world, ASEAN should be able to create its own standards.
“Current electric vehicle manufacturers such as China, South Korea or the US, they have different standards. But what if Southeast Asia creates its own standards which other countries will also follow? We are optimistic that ASEAN can also be a place to set standards, ” he said.
ASEAN foreign ministers gathered in Jakarta earlier this month to discuss Indonesia’s leadership priorities in ASEAN this year. Indonesia has proposed four main aspects, one of which is energy security.
“Indonesia will propose an outcome that will promote the ASEAN region as a center of growth, ensure energy security to support the transition from fossil energy to clean and renewable energy, among others by developing an electric vehicle ecosystem in the region,” said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. (mhn/bbs)
Comment