RI, Kazakhstan agree on cooperation

RI, Kazakhstan agree on cooperation

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto signed a broad agreement yesterday on economic cooperation between Indonesia and Kazakhstan that will include Indonesia's buying cotton from the Central Asia state.

The umbrella agreement for cooperation was signed in Almaty, capital of Kazakhstan, between Soeharto and his host President Nur Sultan Akbashevich Nazarbayev, at the end of their meeting.

The agreement covers cooperation in the field of the economy, trade and investment. A more detailed agreement was later signed by their respective foreign ministers.

Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas told reporters accompanying the President on his current overseas trip that one Kazakhstan commodity that particularly interested Indonesia was cotton.

Indonesia's burgeoning textile industry relies heavily on imported cotton, with China, the United States and Pakistan being the main suppliers.

Three levels of meetings were held almost simultaneously yesterday in Almaty. One between the presidents, another between their cabinet ministers, and a third between their business representatives in the newly-established Indonesia-Kazakhstan Economic Cooperation Forum.

Some 26 top Indonesian business executives are accompanying President Soeharto's current tour of Central Asia, which will also include visits to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Some of the businessmen taking part were Hashim Djojohadikoesoemo, Ponco Sutowo and Dali Sofari.

These business executives will fill in the details of the economic cooperation agreements that were signed by the two governments, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono told reporters.

"The private sector will be encouraged to participate in the cooperation programs. The government is only providing guidance and support," Moerdiono said.

Hashim, who controls PT Comexindo, said that his company has been trading with Kazakhstan for the past two years, supplying tea and palm oil. Comexindo has forged a number of barter trade deals with a number of former Soviet republics.

Indonesia's ambassador to Russia, Rachmat Witoelar, who flew down from Moscow, said there were still obstacles to trading with Kazakhstan, including the lack of banking facilities. He noted that the country only introduced its own currency two years ago.

Soeharto was treated last night to a state dinner by his host Nazarbayev.

At their meeting earlier, the Kazakhstan leader expressed his intention to visit Indonesia, hopefully this coming June, according to Moerdiono.

Soeharto and his entourage, who arrived in Almaty on Thursday, will proceed to Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, today. On Monday he will go to Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, for the last leg of his Central Asia tour. He will fly home on April 12. (emb)