JAKARTA (TheInsiderstories) - The first day visit of Saudi Arabia King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Indonesia has been fruitful. The bilateral meeting between King Salman and Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Palace was productive and conducted in friendly manner, as indicated by a number of memorandum of understandings (MOUs) signed during the meeting. The MOUs also show closeness and strong relationship between the two nations.
During the bilateral meeting, President Joko Widodo was accompanied by most of cabinet ministers. They are Coordinating Minister for Politic, Law and Security Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for People Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Panjaitan.
The other ministers that attended the bilateral meeting were Minister for State Secretary Pratikno, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Minister for Religious Affair Lukman Hakim Saifudin, Minister for Research, Technology and Higher Education Mohamad Nasir, Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan, Minister for Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung and Head of National Investment Coordinating Board Thomas Trikasih Lembong.
King Salman was also accompanied by a number of key ministers.
One of the eleven MoUs is the commitment of the Saudi government to invest in a project development worth US$1 billion, called The Saudi FUnd Contribution to the Financing of Development Project’. Apart from the signing of the 11 MOUs, both countries also agreed to conduct Joint Commission.
Followings are the eleven MOUs:
- Joint Declaration between the government of Indonsia and Saudi Arabia Kingdom on Joint Commission Meeting;
- MoU on improvement cooperation in cultural area to be led by Minister for Education and Culture of the two respective countries;
- Cooperation program between Indonesia’s Ministry of Cooperation and SMEs and its Saudi Arabia counterpart on SME and cooperative development;
- MoU on health issues between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia Health Ministries;
- MoU between aeronautic authority of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia;
- MoU on science and higher education between Indonesia’s Ministry for Research, Technology and Higher Education and Saudi Arabia Kingdom’s Education Ministry;
- MoU on Islam, Dakwah and Guidance between Ministry of Religious Affairs between the two countries;
- MoU on maritime and fishery cooperation;
- MoU on improving trade and investment;
- MoU on combting crimes between Indonesian and Saudi Kingdom Police;
- MoU and fund contribution of the Saudi Government to Indonesian development, called Saudi Fund for Development.
President Joko Widodo said he was optimistic that the relationship between the two nations will grow even stronger.
“I am confident that Indonesia can become a strategic partner in achieving the vision 2030 of Saudi Arabia government, through a strong economic cooperation,” President Joko Widodo said.
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the Indonesian government appreciated the decision of the Saudi government to increase Indonesia’s Hajj quota to 221,000 in 2017. The government of Indonesia also request the Saudi government to improve Indonesian workers, working in the Saudi Kingdom.
In addition, Indonesia also hopes to be given greater access of Indonesian products entering Middle East through Saudi such as textile, health products, fishery products and others.
The Saudi King will be visiting Indonesia from March 1 until March 9. He is scheduled to head to Bali on March 4 for vacation with his 1,500 delegation members. (*)