Up to 35 top Vietnamese and Indonesian food processors met in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 28 to seek cooperation chances to tap their massive market potentials.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Nguyen Xuan Thuy noted momentums for bilateral cooperation, especially in economics, trade and investment, to be stronger in the coming time.

Politically, he said Vietnam and Indonesia agreed to lift their ties to a strategic partnership level during President Truong Tan Sang’s recent visit to Indonesia, laying a firm foundation for across-the-board cooperation.

Trade in the past three consecutive years was remarkable, topping 4.6 billion USD last year. The two countries are working toward a value of 5 billion USD by 2015 and 10 billion USD by 2020, he said.

Besides, both nations remain attractive destinations to foreign investors in the face of global economic turbulence at present, according to the Ambassador.

Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Juan Gondokusumo, on his part, said he is hopeful that the goal of making a two-way trade value of 10 billion USD can be realised in 2018.

The participating Indonesian firms 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 from 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.-VNA