ID :
369321
Fri, 05/29/2015 - 20:08
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Qatar, Indonesia To Increase Economic Cooperation

Jakarta, May 29 (Antara) - Indonesia and Qatar have agreed to increase cooperation in various fields especially the economic field, according to a press release from the foreign affairs ministry received here on Friday. The agreement was made when foreign minister Retno L.P. Marsudi paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in Doha on Thursday (May 28). On the occasion minister Retno hoped that Qatar could diversify its investment in Indonesia to cover infrastructure such as airport and seaport development, power plant projects and toll road development which are now the priority of the Indonesian government.    In connection with it, the Emir of Qatar said that the relations between the two countries need to be continuously increased by taking advantage of various potentials that exist especially in the economic field.   The Emir expressed his country's readiness to increase the economic cooperation especially investment in Indonesia. Besides meeting with the Emir, foreign minister Retno also met with the chief of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud Al-Thani. Foreign minister Retno has urged the Qatari government to make Indonesia as an alternative investment destination and invest in the country in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, energy and maritime. In response to it the QIA chief had expressed readiness to seek investment opportunities in various fields in Indonesia. He hoped the investment regulation reform in Indonesia could be immediately realized to improve the climate and investment certainty in Indonesia. On Wednesday minister Retno held a bilateral meeting with her Qatari counterpart Khalid bin Mohammed Alattiyah in Kuwait. In the meeting the two ministers agreed to strengthen the two countries' bilateral relations including the mechanism of bilateral framework. Qatar as the chairman of the Gulf Cooperation Council also supported the the Indonesian foreign minister's proposal to set up strategic partnership between Indonesia and GCC. The diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Qatar were established in 1976. Qatar's investment in Indonesia spreads in telecommunications and real estate. Qatar is one of Indonesia's important trade partners in the Gulf region while Indonesia is Qatar's third biggest trade partners in the ASEAN region. In 2014 the value of trade between the two countries reached US$1.68 billion with the value of Indonesia's exports recorded at US$92.25 million and imports at US$93.37 million.

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