Mali keen on RI helicopters<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Mali, Africa's second largest cotton producer,
\nwishes to buy helicopters built by the state-owned Nusantara
\nAircraft Industry (IPTN), a senior government official said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono said that in return,
\nIndonesia will buy cotton from the predominantly Moslem, West
\nAfrican country.<\/p>\n
\"The Mali president strongly desires to buy locally-built
\nhelicopters. Tomorrow, he will visit IPTN (in Bandung),\"
\nMoerdiono told reporters after accompanying President Soeharto in
\na meeting with Mali's President Alpha Oumar Konare.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto suggested that Mali could seek credit from
\nthe Islamic Development Bank if a cash purchase of the
\nhelicopters was difficult.<\/p>\n
Both Mali and Indonesia are members of the Organization of
\nIslamic Conference.<\/p>\n
\"To help make the credit repayment easier, Indonesia plans to
\nbuy cotton and probably wheat too, from Mali,\" Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n
The two heads of state agreed to step up trade cooperation
\nbetween the two countries. Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs
\nAli Alatas and his Malian counterpart signed agreements on
\neconomic and technical cooperation.<\/p>\n
Moerdiono said Indonesia offered cooperation in agricultural
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
On political matters, the visiting president promised to
\nsupport Indonesia's stand on the East Timor question in
\ninternational fora, he said.<\/p>\n
Konare arrived here on Thursday for a three-day visit. (pan)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mali-keen-on-ri-helicopters-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }