Ri, Dutch Intensify Infrastructure Development Cooperation

London, May 2 (Antara) - Some 170 businessmen took part in the third Indonesia-Netherlands infrastructure forum on Thursday, focusing on increasing cooperation in the port, fishery, logistic infrastructure and railway sectors. Interim charge d'affairs of the Indonesian Embassy in the Hague, Ibnu Wahyutomo, opened the forum, entitled "Strengthening Indonesia-Netherlands Cooperation on Infrastructure Development", the embassy's minister counselor of information, social and cultural affairs, Azis Nurwahyudi, told Antara's correspondent based in London on Saturday. The forum brought together 170 businessmen from two countries that are engaged in the infrastructure sector, he said. In his opening address to the forum, Ibnu Wahyutomo expressed his hope that the forum would serve as a means to enhance cooperation between businessmen of the two countries. He said the forum focused on increasing cooperation in the port, fishery, logistic infrastructure and railway sectors. Like South Korea, China and Japan, the Netherlands had significant experience and knowledge in the areas of cooperation, he said. Member of the Indonesian transportation minister's expert staff, Sudiharjo, said the forum served as a strategic means to discuss cooperation in infrastructure development, particularly the transportation sector. Furthermore, the Indonesian government is focusing on the development of transportation systems. Secretary General of the Dutch Infrastructure and Environment Ministry Seibe Reidstra, meanwhile, spoke of the development of major cities in the world, including Jakarta. Therefore, he added, adequate infrastructure, including hard and soft infrastructure, were needed to develop major cities and cooperation with many parties is necessary to accomplish this.