Suriname president expected in Indonesia

Suriname president expected in Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): Suriname President R.R. Venetiaan is scheduled
to make a state visit to Indonesia beginning today.

Venetiaan will be accompanied by his wife, at least four
cabinet ministers and a host of entrepreneurs during the four-day
visit, the first ever by a Suriname president, according to a
statement by Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono.

Indonesia and Suriname are bound by tradition for they were
both colonies of the Netherlands at one time and many
Indonesians, particularly Javanese, were shipped there as
plantation workers during the Dutch colonial era.

Now, the descendants of the Javanese make up about 15 percent
of the 413,000 Suriname population.

Venetiaan will also be traveling to Bandung and Yogyakarta
during his stay in Indonesia.

A new trade cooperation agreement will also be signed by the
foreign ministers of the two countries during his stay.

Indonesia and Suriname have had diplomatic relations,
initially at consulate general level since 1964 and elevated to
embassy after Suriname became fully independent in 1975.

Suriname is also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement which is
currently chaired by Indonesia.

The two countries signed a technical cooperation agreement in
1990 and an economic and technical agreement in 1992. Trade
between them amounts to a meager $1.9 million a year, with
Indonesia, which exports textiles, garments and handicrafts,
running a surplus. (emb)