Indonesia, Saudi Arabia boost cooperation

Thursday, May 28, 2015 16:09

Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have agreed to strengthen cooperationthrough the Indonesia-Saudi Arabia Cooperation Committee established in1982, Indonesian Foreign Ministry announced in a press release on May27.

The agreement was reached at the May 26 talksbetween Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and his Saudi Arabiancounterpart Adel bin Ahmed during Marsudi’s visit to Saudi Arabia.

The two sides also mentioned the possibility of establishing strategicpartnership between Indonesia and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Saudi Arabia welcomed Indonesian state-run banks to open branches inJeddah and promised to encourage its own investors to diversifyoperations in the Southeast Asia country.

Marsudi asked Saudi Arabia to help more Indonesian goods enter Gulf markets and Saudi Arabia in particular.

The two ministers also discussed citizen protection and urgenthumanitarian assistance in Southeast Asia regarding Rohingya andBangladeshi migrants.

Saudi Arabia is one of themost important trade partners of Indonesia in the Gulf region. Two-waytrade totalled 8.67 billion USD in 2014 and the number of Indonesiamigrant workers in Saudi Arabia amount to nearly 1 million.-VNA

See more

Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (R) welcomes Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (Photo: thestar.com)

Thailand, Singapore enhance bilateral collaboration

07/11/2025 22:18

The Thai and Singaporean PMs witnessed the signing of several memoranda of understanding (MoUs), notably an MoU on rice trade cooperation between the two governments, under which Thailand agreed to sell Singapore up to 100,000 tonnes of rice annually.

An area devastated by Typhoon Kalmaegi in Cebu province, the Philippines. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Philippines records 188 Kalmaegi-induced deaths, braces for new storm

07/11/2025 21:39

The Southeast Asian country is predicted to face Super Typhoon Fung-wong, locally known as Uwan, in the coming days.

Indonesia to add 30 urban trains in Jakarta

07/11/2025 16:56

The addition of new trains is expected to help Indonesia ease traffic congestion, improve the quality of public transport services, and promote sustainable socio-economic development in Indonesia’s most densely populated urban area.

Indonesia intensifies efforts to eradicate extreme poverty

07/11/2025 16:51

Millions of hectares of state-repossessed land in Indonesia will be prioritised for extremely poor families in agriculture, where 49% of the extreme poor work.

Indonesia to end diesel imports by 2026

07/11/2025 16:34

Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia has reported to President Prabowo Subianto that Indonesia is on track to stop importing diesel fuel by early 2026, marking a major milestone in national energy independence.

Director General of the Metal, Machinery, Transportation Equipment, and Electronics (ILMATE) Industry at the Ministry of Industry Setia Diarta during the Opening of GIIAS Makassar on November 5. (Photo: ANTARA)

Indonesia to downstream EV batteries in two years

07/11/2025 15:56

Indonesia is projecting the downstreaming of electric vehicle (EV) batteries for motorcycles and cars within the next two years, according to Director General of the Metal, Machinery, Transportation Equipment, and Electronics (ILMATE) Industry at the Ministry of Industry Setia Diarta.

Head of the National Food Agency of Indonesia (Bapanas) Andi Amran Sulaima (R) (Photo: Antara)

Indonesia’s record rice output eases global prices

07/11/2025 05:56

Strengthening domestic rice production to meet public consumption has also bolstered the Indonesian Government Rice Reserve (CBP), which now totals 3.8 million tonnes.

At the launch of the programme. (Photo: nationthailand.com)

Thailand launches programme to reduce healthcare costs for citizens

07/11/2025 05:36

Under the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), private hospitals in Thailand must provide complete and accurate prescriptions listing drug names and usage details. This transparency allows patients to choose whether to buy their medicines directly from the hospital or from registered pharmacies outside.

Illustrative photo (Photo: bangkokpost.com)

Thailand delivers tepid rice export forecasts for 2026

07/11/2025 03:30

Thailand maintains its export target for next year at 7.5 million tonnes, including 3.5 million tonnes of white rice, 1.7 million tonnes of hom mali rice, 1.4 million tonnes of parboiled rice, 600,000 tonnes of Thai fragrant rice and 300,000 tonnes of sticky rice.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto speaks at the inauguration of the petrochemical factory in Cilegon city, Banten, on November 6. (Photo: VNA)

Southeast Asia's largest petrochemical plant opens in Indonesia

06/11/2025 20:34

Built with an investment of around 4 billion USD, the LCI petrochemical plant spans nearly 108 hectares. It is projected to produce a range of strategic products, including 1,000 kilotons of ethylene annually.

Residents clean up outside their homes after Typhoon Kalmaegi caused devastation in communities at Talisay City, Cebu province, central Philippines, Nov. 5, 2025. (Photo: AP)

Typhoon Kalmaegi claims nearly 120 lives in Philippines

06/11/2025 11:30

The death toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi across the central Philippines has risen to at least 114, with 127 people still missing.

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn (Photo: Bernama)

ASEAN Secretary-General: Higher education will shape the region’s future

06/11/2025 06:05

The ASEAN chief revealed that the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Strategic Plan designates education as a driver for equity and sustainable development. Its agenda calls for enhancing access to quality education, promoting lifelong learning, and integrating green skills into curricula. In short, academic purpose serves societal and community purpose.