President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is seeking to improve cooperation in the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation ( REDD+ ) project with Norway. On Tuesday, the President held a courtesy call with the visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende.

Currently, the country is at a transition point between the first and the second phase of the three-phase REDD+, lagging behind the initial target.

The Indonesia-Norway REDD+ cooperation program is divided into three phases. The first is the preparation stage.

The second is the transformation stage and the last is the contributions-for-verified emission reductions phase, which will see Norway deliver US$800 million to Indonesia if Indonesia is proved to have reduced its emissions from deforestation.

The third phase was supposed to begin in 2014. However, Indonesia has not completed the second phase and it still does not have a comprehensive Integrated Measurement, Reporting and Verification ( MRV ) system, which is mandated by the agreement.

“That is why the President also said that [he wanted] the cooperation to be accelerated in terms of its implementation,” said Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, who accompanied Jokowi during Tuesday’s meeting at the State Palace.

During a visit to Jakarta in February, Norwegian Climate and Environment Minister Vidar Helgesen expressed dissatisfaction about the lack of visible improvement in its REDD+ project despite some substantial progress in the planning phase.

Jokowi, Retno said, also instructed Indonesia’s Environment and Forestry Ministry and the Peatland Restoration Agency ( BRG ) to improve their performance.

In fisheries, Jokowi wants the two countries to strengthen cooperation in combating illegal fishing.

Indonesia is also seeking to learn from and “copy their [Norway’s] aquaculture”, said Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti.