Slovakia eyes business ties with Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): The Slovakian Republic is eying economic cooperation with Indonesia, especially in the industrial sector dealing with the manufacture of agricultural machinery and heavy equipment.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono told journalists that the two countries would make efforts to solve problems hampering their economic relations. His comments came after a two-hour meeting between President Soeharto and visiting Prime Minister Josef Moravcik at Merdeka Palace, yesterday.

Moerdiono said the problems include a lack of banking relations between the two countries and the absence of banking representatives in each others' countries.

"That is the reason for the involvement of Slovakia's central bank governor in the prime minister's mission to Indonesia," he said.

"President Soeharto and Prime Minister Moravcik have ordered their ministers and high officials to take measures to overcome the problems," he added.

He said the two heads of government agreed that their countries should soon sign agreements to protect investments and avoid double taxation.

Moerdiono said the two leaders also discussed the possibility of Indonesia opening an embassy in Slovakia's capital city of Bratislava.

Currently, Indonesian affairs in Slovakia are handled by the Indonesian embassy for the Czech republic in Prague.

Prime Minister Moravcik, who will conclude his three-day Indonesian visit today, is accompanied by Minister of Economy Peter Magvasi and a delegation of representatives of 30 Slovakian companies.

The delegation held a meeting yesterday with Indonesian businessmen at the World Trade Center, to explore the possibilities of business cooperation.

The center's managing director, Erwin Ramedhan, told reporters that the Slovakian delegation, which included representatives of producers, exporters and importers of heavy machinery, electrical energy equipment, agricultural machinery and foodstuffs, are not only interested in exports and imports but also in investment.

"They can provide technology and services and we can provide the funds for investment projects," Ramedhan said. (als)