Jakarta. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Saturday flew to Germany to kick off Europe’s largest industrial fair Hannover Messe.

“I will kick off the 2023 Hannover Messe together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz,” Jokowi said before boarding the flight at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten on Saturday.

Indonesia is the first ASEAN member state to become the official partner country for Hannover Messe thrice. The Southeast Asian country has chosen “Making Indonesia 4.0” as its theme at the industrial exhibition. 

Jokowi said he would also hold bilateral talks with Scholz during his Germany trip.

“I will also be meeting with some of Germany’s top businessmen. Germany is a pivotal trade partner and investor within Europe [for Indonesia]. It is our largest trading partner among European countries. Germany is the fourth largest investor in Europe,” Jokowi said.

The Indonesian government aims to bring home business deals at least a hundred times more than what the country has put in to join the 2023 Hannover Messe. The government has allocated Rp 140 billion ($9.47 million) to participate in the industrial fair. About 157 co-exhibitors will represent Indonesia at the Hannover Messe this year.

Jokowi is scheduled to arrive back in Jakarta on April 18.

Government data shows that Indonesia-Germany trade reached $7.04 billion in 2022. Foreign direct investment from Germany to Indonesia stood at $195.5 million.