Aussie, RI ministers to meet on economy

JAKARTA (JP): Four Indonesian and five Australian ministers will meet in Canberra next week to advance the bilateral economic agenda for the next two years, a spokesman for the Australian Ministry for Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

The spokesman said in a statement made available here that the Indonesian delegation, who will attend the second Australia- Indonesia Ministerial Forum at the Hyatt Hotel on Aug. 23-24, will include Coordinating Minister for Industry and Trade Hartarto, Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, Minister of Trade Satrio B. Joedono and Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah.

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Gareth Evans will lead the Australian delegation, which will include Minister for Trade, Senator Bob McMullan, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Senator Peter Cook, Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, Senator Bob Collins and Minister for Resources, Mr. David Beddal, the spokesman said.

The spokesman quoted Evans as saying that information had already been exchanged on intellectual and industrial property rights and food and agriculture, and areas for joint cooperation were being explored.

The proposed areas of cooperation included meat, livestock, dairy and food processing industries and horticulture and land and water management, the spokesman said.(riz)