Indonesia invited to invest in Mongolia
Indonesia invited to invest in Mongolia
JAKARTA (JP): Mongolian President Punsalmaagiin Orchirbat has
invited Indonesia to participate in the exploration of the
central Asian country's oil and gas reserves.
The Mongolian president made the invitation during a meeting
with President Soeharto.
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said the Mongolian
president also proposed Indonesia participate in exploiting
Mongolia's large amount of livestock.
Orchirbat arrived here Monday evening for a three-day visit
aimed at boosting ties between the two countries.
He is accompanied by his wife, Sharavyn Tsevelmaa, and Foreign
Minister Shukeriin Altangerel.
Moerdiono did not elaborate on the extent of cooperation it
proposed in oil and gas exploration.
Mongolia's livestock is mostly sheep and cattle and it
outnumbers Mongolia's 2.5 million human population.
"Mongolia has offered Indonesia the chance to build a meat and
dairy processing factory there," Moerdiono said.
He said entrepreneurs were being invited to invest in
Mongolia's wool sector because Indonesia was known for its
successful textile industry.
Moerdiono said the Mongolian head of state was very interested
in learning about Indonesia's development during the 90-minute
meeting.
"The president, of course, explained the basics of our
development policy," he said.
He said that "if Mongolia considers it necessary, Indonesia's
senior economic and development policy architects could give
their views on Mongolian development."
After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing
of a Memorandum of Understanding on the protection and promotion
of investment by Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas and
Shukeriin Altangerel.
The Mongolian president reiterated his country's desire to
join the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
The ARF is an annual political security consultative dialog.
Moerdiono did not say how Indonesia responded to this request.
Orchirbat left for Bali yesterday and will go to New Zealand
later today. (mds)