Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg have pleded to bolster cooperation in deep sea technology for oil and gas exploration and forest protection.

Speaking with the press after their meeting in Jakarta on April 14 Indonesian Energy and Mines Minister Sudirman Said stressed Norway’s advanced deep sea technology and Indonesia’s abundant deep sea oil reserves will lead to a highly fruitful partnership.

Indonesia’s state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina and Norway’s state company State Oil will cooperate on the initiative.

Indonesia's Environment and Forestry Ministry disclosed Norway will speed up the implementation of its commitment to disburse a one billion USD grant for forest protection in the Southeast Asian nation, an initiative that began in 2010.

So far, only 10 percent of Norway's one billion USD aid commitment has been delivered.

Both Indonesia and Norway plan to cooperate in establishing hydro power plants in the Sumba Island of Indonesia, generating renewable energy and combating illegal fishing.-VNA