Norwegian Crown Prince To Visit Indonesia

Jakarta, Nov 26 (ANTARA) - Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon Magnus is scheduled to arrive here on Sunday for a five-day visit, during he will discuss efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two nations, a presidential aide said. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will greet Prince Haakon Magnus at Merdeka Palace after which they will hold a bilateral meeting, Teuku Faizasyah, the President`s special aide for international relations, said in a statement released on Sunday. Both sides will also discuss regional and global issues of mutual concern as Norway is one of Indonesia`s main partners in Europe, including in the development of forestry and environment sectors, he said. "The meeting will discuss how to enhance cooperation in a number of priority sectors, such as environment, energy, trade and investment," he said. During the visit, Prince Haakon will be accompanied by Princess Mette-Marit and a number of ministers and businessmen. President Yudhoyono is expected to hold a luncheon in honor of Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit. While in Jakarta, Prince Haakon will also meet with ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan and inaugurate a business forum themed `Indonesia-Norway: Strategic Partnership in Business" to be held by Innovation Norway. He will also visit Yogyakarta to meet Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and give a general lecture at Gadjah Mada University about "Nurturing Tolerance and The Need for Dialogue". According to data from the Indonesian Trade Ministry, trade between Indonesia and Norway reached US$309 million in 2011. In the first half of 2012, the figure was recorded at US$236 million.