RI offers aircraft to Thailand

BANGKOK (JP): Indonesia has proposed to exchange its CN-235 aircraft with Thai agricultural products under a counter-trade arrangement, Thai Ambassador to Indonesia Kasit Pirom says.

Jakarta is interested in importing rice, corn, sugar, rubber and frozen fish products, he said Thursday.

The proposal is likely to be considered on Monday by the council of economic ministers.

Kasit was accompanying an Indonesian delegation headed by S. Paramajuda, deputy director of the Agency for the Supervision of Strategic Industries.

The ambassador said CN-235 can be used by the police or ministries of interior affairs and agriculture and cooperatives.

The offer is regarded as an Indonesian attempt to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries, he said, adding that it is in line with the Thai recent cabinet resolution which urged government agencies to buy foreign goods with a barter system.