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Indonesia urges closer economic ties
Indonesia hopes to further strengthen business co-operation with Viet Nam, its ambassador in Viet Nam, Pitono Purnomo, told the media at a regular media gathering in HCM City last Friday.
Business exchanges between the two nations had been developing since their governments signed a trade agreement in 1957, he said.
Bilateral trade, worth US$2.8 billion last year, up from $519 million 11 years ago.
Indonesian businesses had invested more than $200 million in Viet Nam though their real investment could be more than $2 billion since many were registered in third countries.
He urged Vietnamese businesses to invest in his country, especially in the seafood, food, and restaurant sector since his country had a huge population of 250 million.
Though Viet Nam and Indonesia signed an investment protection agreement in 1991, bilateral investment has remained low.
The ambassador said relations with Viet Nam were close and rising to new levels.
"Viet Nam and Indonesia have to seek ways to enhance bilateral economic co-operation.
"At the same time we also continue to promote people-to-people contacts to complement our strong co-operation (At the) government level.
"Fifty five years ago, Indonesia was the fourth country in the world and the first in Southeast Asia to establish diplomatic relations with Viet Nam. In 1957 we signed the trade agreement. Since then the relationship has developed and matured."
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