Algerian president to visit RI

JAKARTA: Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will visit Indonesia from Oct. 12 through Oct. 15, aiming to boost bilateral ties between the two countries.

The Indonesian trip, the first to be made by an Algerian president since its independence, has been arranged at the invitation of Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who visited the North African country in September last year.

During his official visit, Bouteflika will hold talks with Megawati on mutual steps to improve ties between the two countries and on international and regional issues, Algerian Ambassador Soufiane Memouni said on Wednesday.

The two leaders will also discuss various matters regarding the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which will hold its summit in Malaysia later this month. Both Bouteflika and Megawati are scheduled to attend.

The Algerian President will bring with him 40 businesspeople during his visit and will witness the signing of three memorandums of understanding on small and medium scale entrepreneurship, fisheries and tourism.

Trade between Indonesia and Algeria stood at US$212 million last year, down from $480 million the previous year. -- Antara