Poland offers RI technical expertise

Poland offers RI technical expertise

JAKARTA (JP): Visiting Polish Prime Minister Wlodzimierz
Cimoszewicz and President Soeharto yesterday discussed the
prospect of economic cooperation in the field of infrastructure
development.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said here yesterday that
Poland, which has expertise in such fields, has specifically
offered to help develop ports, power plants and coal mining.

"Poland has experience and high technology in coal mining. It
has offered cooperation in this field," Moerdiono said.

"We also will study cooperation in the field of tourism
because there is big potential of tourists from Poland," he said.

"Of the more concrete things discussed was Poland's support
for more cooperation in the field of science and technology,"
Moerdiono said.

"The two sides of course still have to study the matters
further, because, as normally takes place in a leaders' meeting,
(what's discussed) is more of a political commitment," he said.

"Concrete (programs) still have to be worked out in detail by
ministers and high officials of both countries," Moerdiono said.

Cimoszewicz arrived on the holiday resort island of Bali on
Sunday before coming to Jakarta the next day for a three-day
visit. He is scheduled to leave for Thailand later this
afternoon.

Economic matters dominated the 1.5 hour meeting in which the
two leaders also explained their respective economic policies and
development strategies.

Bilateral trade between the two countries last year reached
over US$100 million.

Cimoszewicz was only recently appointed as Prime Minister
after a reshuffle of the Polish coalition cabinet in February.

According to Moerdiono very little political matters were
discussed. Neither the issue of East Timor integration to
Indonesia nor the case of two East Timorese asylum seekers who
entered Polish Embassy here on Monday were discussed, he said.

Soeharto and Cimoszewicz have agreed that mutual visitation,
particularly from the private sector, should be promoted so the
two sides will better understand the other's commercial
potentials.

Moerdiono said that Cimoszewicz also delivered a letter of
invitation from Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski for
Soeharto to visit Poland at a mutually convenient time.(mds)