RI, Turkey to increase economic ties

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Trade and religion were two things Indonesia and Turkey had in common and efforts would be made to boost ties on both fronts, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says.

Susilo, speaking after meeting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in bilateral talks on Monday said the two governments would seek to push bilateral trade to US$2 billion in three years.

Indonesia and Turkey also agreed to an exchange of Muslim scholars in a bid to develop a better knowledge of Islam.

"We agree to improve our partnership and cooperation in the future. We are happy that there are no political problems whatsoever between Turkey and us. However, we think that the value and volume of trading between the two country remains low," Susilo said at the Merdeka Palace.

Erdogan said there was a large window of opportunity to boost bilateral trade, which currently stands at around $300 million annually.

Susilo said both countries had agreed to re-activate a joint- commission for economic and technical cooperation, increase the number of bilateral dialogs and set up an Indonesia-Turkey business forum comprising the private sector.

During his three-day visit to Indonesia, Erdogan brought with him a 150-strong trade delegation led by four Cabinet members and notable businesspeople.

Erdogan visited tsunami-stricken Banda Aceh on Sunday, joining other world leaders in expressing his sympathy to victims of the disaster.

Turkey has pledged $1.25 million to the relief effort in Aceh and promised to help Indonesian government rebuild the province.

Erdogan said Turkey was committed to constructing some 1,000 houses as well as orphanages, schools, hospitals and infrastructure in line with the master plan for Aceh's reconstruction.