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Indonesia, Japan strengthen maritime economic cooperation
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Deep talks – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (left) listens attentively to Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (second from left) on the sidelines of a limited Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Sept. 21. (Antara/Yudhi Mahatma)
T
he Indonesian and Japanese governments have agreed to intensify the maritime economic cooperation the two countries initiated last year in Indonesia, a senior minister has said.
Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said Indonesia and Japan have agreed to set up working groups to follow up on cooperation agreements that included a joint oil exploration project in Natuna, Riau Islands, agricultural development in Merauke, Papua, and the Patimban Port project.
“With these working groups we hope several projects can start in the first quarter of next year," Luhut said when he told journalists about the results of his visit to Tokyo last week.
The minister said Japan would assist Indonesia in the education sector by providing vocational training and sending its professors to various universities in Indonesia.
"Both countries also agreed to follow up with cooperation over a peacekeeping force, which they also have initiated," he went on.
During Luhut's visit, he offered the Jakarta-Surabaya medium-speed railway project to the Japanese government. Following the meeting, the two countries are set to conduct a joint study on the project, which is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2017. (ebf)
