Indonesia-Singapore Agree To Further Economic Momentum

Bogor, W.Java, Mar 14 (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Singapore agree to use the momentum of a strong regional economy as the foundation of increased cooperation among countries in Southeast Asia to provide a positive impact on economic growth in each country. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Tuesday at the presidential palace in Bogor in a meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, that the two countries agreed to be the motor driver for the economy and also invited the other countries in the Southeast Asian region to work together to increase investment and trading. "One thing is certain, that in Southeast Asia or the ASEAN region, the economies are growing very well. They also have the opportunity to further increase growth. Southeast Asia is strong now so we should not slow down the momentum or lose opportunities," the president said. President Yudhoyono added that so far there has been cooperation among Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines (BIMP-EAGA) and also Singapore-Johor-Riau (Sijori), which needs to be developed and revitalized so that the economy in the region and in each country can be boosted. "Indonesia`s economy is good, and Singapore and Malaysia are also doing well so there is the potential to put them together," the president noted. In his speech at the joint consultation meeting between Indonesia and Singapore at the Bogor Palace, President Yudhoyono said that the economic cooperation established so far could be improved even further. "I expect this to be a bridge to enhance the bilateral cooperation in the future," he remarked. The President added that since issues have been discussed to achieve more progress and success in the future, the economic cooperation in trade and investment has become stronger. Therefore, Indonesia hoped that the progress in both countries could be used for better economic cooperation. The President mentioned that the Bogor Palace has been witness to a number of important events including the development of the cooperation forum countries of Asia Pacific (APEC). Hence, he hoped that the bilateral cooperation consultation meetings, previously carried out in Singapore and this year at Bogor Palace, would encourage a greater cooperation between the two countries. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong in his foreword appreciated the efforts of the Indonesian government and agreed that the economic cooperation between the two countries was very important. Before the bilateral talks between the delegations of both countries, President Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Loong had a meeting to discuss the development of bilateral cooperation. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was accompanied by several ministers and officials such as Singapore`s Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang, Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen, Minister of Foreign Affairs K. Shanmugam, Minister of Health Gan Kim Yong, Minister of Development Chan Chun Sing and Minister of State (Information, Communications and the Arts cum environment and water sources) Grace Fu. Meanwhile, President Yudhoyono was accompanied by the Coordinating Minister of Politics, Law and Human Rights Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating Minister of Economics Hatta Rajasa, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa, Minister of Industry MSA Hidayat, Commander of Armed Forces Admiral Agus Suhartono, Chief Police General Police Timur Pradopo and other officials.