Indonesia, Switzerland boost economic cooperation

The scene of a street in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital. (Source: AFP)

Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesia and Switzerland discussed measures to boost economic and trade cooperation during the political dialogue and the meeting of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETC) in Bern, Switzerland, from November 24-25.

The two countries also considered boosting cooperation in the legal sector, especially within the mutual legal assistance treaty.

Indonesia hoped Switzerland would speed up the exemption of Schengen visa for Indonesian citizens, boost cooperation in education, research, technology and skill training.

The two sides also agreed that Indonesia will become Switzerland’s important development partner during 2016-2019.

Indonesia’s Ambassador to Switzerland Dian Djani Triansyah expressed his hope that Switzerland, with its high development level in the health sector, will work with Indonesia effectively in drug detoxification and rehabilitation for drug addicts, health management and development of laboratories.

Ambassador Livia Leu, Head of the Bilateral Economic Relations Division and member of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, said the political dialogue and the JETC will begin a new era of bilateral cooperation with a focus on economic ties.

Indonesia and Switzerland established diplomatic ties in 1952 and their two-way trade value reached 761 million USD in 2014.

Switzerland is Indonesia’s 15th largest investor in 2014 with 91 projects and a total investment of 150 million USD.

Indonesia has been one of Switzerland’s seven key development partners since 2009.-VNA