Vietnamese, Indonesian firms seek closer cooperation
As many as 35 top Vietnamese and Indonesian food processors met in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 28.
At the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Nguyen Xuan Thuy spoke of prospects for their closer cooperation, especially in economics, trade and investment.
He said Vietnam and Indonesia have agreed to lift bilateral ties to a level of strategic partnership laying a firm foundation for across-the-board cooperation.
Bilateral trade has grown considerably over past three years, topping US$4.6 billion in 2012. The two countries have been striving to raise the figure to US$5 billion by 2015 and US$10 billion by 2020, he said.
Both nations are still attractive destinations to foreign investors in the context of global economic slowdown, the Ambassador noted.
The Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Juan Gondokusumo, said he is hopeful that the goal of achieving US$10 billion in two way trade value by 2018 is possible.
Participants agreed that Vietnam Airlines’ recent opening of a direct air route between Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta, and upcoming direct flights between Hanoi and Jakarta as of September 1 will drive Vietnam-Indonesia tourism and business forward.
The event was co-hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia and the Business Association of Vietnamese High-quality Goods, which is attending the ongoing 2013 Jakarta International Food Expo.