Indonesian Foreign Minister Discusses Potential Strengthening Sustainable Agricultural Cooperation To The Red And White Kopdes With Norway

Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono when meeting Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono discussed the potential strengthening of cooperation in agriculture to cooperatives with Norway, during a working visit to the country.

Foreign Minister Sugiono held a meeting with Norwegian Royal Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on his first visit to the Scandinavian region.

Marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Foreign Minister Sugiono conveyed the potential for strengthening cooperation with Norway, among others, through the procurement of solar panels for the 80,000 Cooperatives program of Red and White Villages; the development of sustainable fish and agricultural cultivation to strengthen food security and support the Free Nutrition Food program; as well as increasing trade and investment flows, especially by maximizing the use of the Indonesia-EFTA (European Free Trade Association) CEPA (Compensive Economic Partnership Agreement), quoted from a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (3/12).

The two foreign ministers underlined the importance of deregulation to launch investment flows from Norway to Indonesia.

This opportunity was used by Foreign Minister Sugiono to invite Norway to collaborate with Danantara.

In addition to bilateral relations, the two main diplomats of each country exchange views on the development of regional and global issues, including the peace process in Palestine and the Myanmar issue.

In addition, United Nations (UN) reform efforts within the framework of UN80 and WTO reforms, in which Norway is a facilitator, are also topics of discussion.

Both Foreign Minister Sugiono and Foreign Minister Eide emphasized their readiness to contribute concretely to the issues in question.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Eide at the beginning of the meeting expressed his deep condolences for the flood disaster that hit a number of areas in Sumatra.

In turn, Foreign Minister Eide also appreciated Indonesia's position as an important partner for Norway, especially in the field of environmental and international peace.

Various issues of concern with the two countries both in the scope of bilateral and multilateral cooperation mark the close diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Norway, which have been established since January 25, 1950.