Jakarta – US Vice President Mike Pence met with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Thursday (20/04) to discuss overcoming obstacles that limit bilateral trade and investment between the two nations.

"The president and I spoke [...] very candidly and very respectfully," Pence told Indonesian business executives at a round table discussion in Jakarta on Friday.

Pence arrived in the capital on Wednesday in a bid to boost strategic partnerships between the world's second- and third-largest democracies, but a series of disputes between American firms operating in the country and the Indonesian government have proven difficult to resolve.

Over the past six months, Indonesia has wrestled with mining giant Freeport McMoRan, demanding the company divest 51 percent of its shares in its Papua-based gold and copper mine.

The government has also demanded that Google settle unpaid taxes of more than $400 million, and has scrubbed JP Morgan from its list of primary bond dealers after what was deemed a negative research report.

Nevertheless, Pence was due to witness the signing of more than $10 billion in memoranda of understanding with US companies in Indonesia on Friday, a White House official said.

The 11 deals would be signed with companies including Exxon Mobil, Lockheed Martin and General Electric. Pence is on the final day of a visit to Indonesia before departing at midday for Australia.

"We think there are opportunities to clear open the way for American companies to participate more greatly in Indonesia," Pence said.

Lin Neumann, managing director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia, said most of the agreements were with energy companies, which have been making "a big push."

Some US companies have a technological edge while Indonesia has a rising demand for power, "so that's a good fit," Neumann told Reuters.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/business/pence-discusses-barriers-us-companies-jokowi-10b-deals-signed/