Indonesia offers technical support to Bangladesh

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has offered to cooperate with Bangladesh in technical support in the agricultural sector and gas exploration, a minister said yesterday.

In bilateral talks yesterday morning, President Soeharto told visiting Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that Indonesia was ready to share its experience and technology in gas exploration with Bangladesh.

"They have just discovered a big gas reserve, and we would be very pleased to fulfill their request for education in gas exploration management, especially in production-sharing contract systems," Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said after the meeting. Indonesia is one of the world's largest natural gas producers.

The prime minister arrived here yesterday for a four-day state visit to help speed up slow economic cooperation between the two countries.

Indonesia's exports to Bangladesh reached US$117 million in 1996, while its imports were less than $10 million.

"We need about 600,000 tons of soybeans each year and hope that Bangladesh could supply us with the commodity," Moerdiono quoted Soeharto as telling Hasina.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, Indonesia's soybean production was about 1.5 million tons last year, mostly used for tempeh, soy sauce and tofu.

The two heads of state agreed on the need for closer cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Moerdiono remarked.

ASEAN comprises Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos. SAARC comprises Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

During the meeting Hasina also asked for Soeharto's support for its entry into the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC).

"The President pledged that (Indonesia would) provide help to Bangladesh to join the group," Moerdiono disclosed.

The group covers countries in Asia, Africa and Australia, including Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Australia and South Africa.

This morning Hasina and her entourage will visit state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT IPTN in Bandung before leaving for Bali in the afternoon.

After resting for two nights in Bali, she will leave for the Philippines on Monday. (prb)