S’pore, Indonesia to continue working on Nusantara, green economy: PM Lee

Other joint projects in the works, including cooperating on the export of electricity

- Hariz Baharudin

Singapore companies have been expressing interest in Indonesia's new future capital, as collaborative efforts continue for both countries in emerging fields like the green economy, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Speaking to Singapore media after the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders' Retreat in Bogor, West Java, on April 29, PM Lee said that earlier in the day, he and Indonesia President Joko Widodo discussed the potential of Nusantara, the proposed new capital that will replace Jakarta later this year.

He noted how, in particular, Singaporean state-owned energy and urban development company Sembcorp has a project to supply sustainable energy to Nusantara.

"This is a project which is very close to President Jokowi's heart, so I am glad that we have been able to participate in it," he said, referring to the Indonesian leader by the moniker by which he is commonly known.

"It is a very important relationship for Singapore, and I hope from Indonesia's point of view, they find it a valuable relationship to them too." Other joint projects are in the works too, and PM Lee said that the two leaders had discussed possibilities in the green economy.