Indonesia and Turkmenistan agree on direct trade

Indonesia and Turkmenistan agree on direct trade

JAKARTA (JP): The governments of Indonesia and Turkmenistan
agreed yesterday to begin direct trade.

President Soeharto and his counterpart Saparmurat Niyazov
explored the trade areas that the two countries can develop.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono told journalists that
Indonesia is interested in Turkmenistan's high grade cotton,
sulfur and oil.

Niyazov, accompanied by his deputy premier, foreign minister
and other officials and business leaders, arrived here on
Wednesday for a three-day state visit aimed at exploring
economic, trade and cultural cooperation.

Soeharto asked related ministers take concrete steps to
carefully study the two countries' economic potential, he said.

"Specifically the President asked them to look into the
possibility of Indonesia setting up tea and cotton factories in
Turkmenistan," he said.

He said Central Bank Governor Soedradjat Djiwandono and his
Turkmenistani counterpart would meet to discuss problems
surrounding the payment procedures.

To boost bilateral trade, officials from the two countries
have signed two memorandums of agreement on economics and
investment.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shikmuradov Boris Orazovich said
Turkmenistan was impressed by Indonesia's role in the Non-Aligned
Movement.

President Niyazov also attended a luncheon hosted by Aburizal
Bakrie, chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) at
the Grand Hyatt Hotel yesterday.

Chief of the Kadin Committee for the Commonwealth of
Independent States, Hasjim Djojohadikusumo, said Niyazov was the
first head of state from a former Soviet state to visit
Indonesia.

He said Niyazov's visit opened a chance for the Indonesian
business to introduce themselves in the Central Asian country,
which has been building its economy since it broke from the
Soviet Union.

Niyazov canceled his plan to visit the Indorama textile
factory in Purwakarta, about 80 kilometers east of here. (pan)