President Jokowi Meets Freeport McMoRan Chairman, Welcomes Discussion on Adding Freeport Shares in Indonesia

INDUSTRY co.id - Washington DC, United States - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received Freeport McMoRan Chairman Richard Adkerson at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Washington DC, United States, Monday (13/11). During the meeting, President Jokowi welcomed discussion on the addition of Freeport shares in Indonesia and the extension of the mining licence that has reached the final stage.

"I am pleased to hear that discussion on the addition of 10 percent of Freeport shares in Indonesia and the extension of the mining permit for 20 years has reached the final stage," President Jokowi told Richard Adkerson. President Jokowi also hopes that the matter can be finalised by the end of November this year.

In a separate statement after the meeting, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Ad Interim Erick Thohir observed that currently the relationship between Indonesia and the US continues to improve, especially in the field of trade. "If we look at it, our trade surplus with the US has reached almost US$16 billion, and the growth in recent years has been rapid. US investment in Indonesia is number four now, which has never happened before," he said.

Therefore, Erick said that this was the underlying reason for President Jokowi to continue to encourage US investment in Indonesia, including from Freeport McMoRan. "Incidentally, our state-owned company already controls 51 percent," he continued.

Erick further revealed that the meeting between President Jokowi and the CEO of Freeport McMoRan also discussed the downstream activities carried out by Freeport. Erick said that currently Freeport is not only carrying out gold and copper mining activities, but has built a smelter in Surabaya to process it.

Erick also stated that during the meeting, Freeport also showed its commitment to build other smelters in other locations in Indonesia, including in Fakfak Regency, West Papua. Erick also assessed that a number of things conveyed and discussed in the meeting were very good in order to increase investment which would have an impact on improving the welfare of the Indonesian people. Erick also added that investment from abroad can create jobs in Indonesia itself as aspired by the President.

Accompanying the President at the meeting were Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Ad Interim Erick Thohir, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif, and Indonesian Ambassador to the US Rosan Roeslani. Also present at the meeting was PT Freeport Indonesia President Director Tony Wenas.