S'pore, Riau promote ties

S'pore, Riau promote ties

SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore has agreed to promote cooperation in agri-business projects in Indonesia's Riau province, officials from both countries said Wednesday.

Singapore Trade Minister George Yeo and Riau provincial Governor Saleh Djasit said in a statement they discussed ways to promote cooperation in the sector during a visit by Yeo to Riau on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"One such area could be to promote private sector cooperation in agri-business, with a focus on food production," the statement said.

Singapore and Riau will establish a vegetable packaging and processing centre in Pekanbaru which is expected to be a "catalyst" to attract further private sector investment in agri- business.

Singapore, a small but affluent island republic, imports 90 percent of its food.

Both officials also "discussed the development of water resources in Riau for long-term supply to Singapore" which currently sources part of its water needs from Malaysia.