Jokowi meets Soros to discuss economy, environment

JAKARTA. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo met global financier and philanthropist George Soros on Tuesday at the Presidential Office in Jakarta, in a courtesy call.

"It was a courtesy call meeting. [They] shared about the global economy and his [Soros’] concerns about the environment," Coordinating Economic Minister Sofyan Djalil, who accompanied Jokowi during the meeting, told the press.

Soros said the two engaged in a good conversation on the global financial situation.

"I can say that we had a very good far-reaching conversation, discussing the global financial situation and the plans of the government," Soros said.

However, he refused to reveal any specific issues brought to the table.

Last year, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met Soros in Bali — ahead of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda meeting — to discuss follow-up on the Indonesia-Norway partnership on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).

At that time, Soros provided inspiration and praised Indonesia’s leadership on REDD+, including how provincial administrations could play a role in implementing the initiative. Soros also told Yudhoyono that the moratorium policy on peatland and primary forests should be given adequate attention. (Ina Parlina)