Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia and Belgium have agreed to intensify economic cooperation, especially in fields of trade and investment.
Both nations reached the agreement during a meeting on March 15 between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Princess Astrid of Belgian, who is paying a visit to the Southeast Asian country from March 12-19.
The Indonesian leader briefed the Belgian delegation about the country’s efforts to make the economy more open and competitive. He highlighted ten economic policy packages that the Government has issued so far and improvements in investment licencing for enterprises.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi affirmed that Belgium is a key partner for Indonesia in trade and investment. Last year, two-way trade reached 1.67 billion USD, while Belgium’s investment in Indonesia reached more than 7 million USD. Some 2,000 Belgian companies operate business in the country.
Princess Astrid is leading a delegation of 300 representatives from 127 enterprises to seek business opportunities in Indonesia. The companies are engaged in construction, infrastructure, energy, clean technology, communication and information technology, food and beverages, transportation, logistics, marketing and education.-VNA
