I believe the Norway government supports open and fair trade relations."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Norway have agreed to increase current cooperation as trade and investment have been growing positively, Head of Press, Media and Information of the Presidential Secretariat Bey Machmudin said in a press release received here on Sunday.

The agreement was the important point in the results of the bilatetal meeting between President Joko Widodo and Norways Prime Minister Erna Solberg on the sideline of the G20 Summit in Hamburg on Saturday (8/7).

"Trade in 2016 rose by 40.5 percent in value compated to 2015. Investment meanwhile increased 77.2 percent including portfolio investment from Norways Pension Global Fund. The positive trend must cintinue to be maintained and even increased," President Joko Widodo said to Prime Minister Ema who vidited Indonesia in 2015.

He said Indonesia has received investment grades from three world rating agencies.

"I hope for your support so that Indonesia-European Free Trade Association Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EFTA CEPA) negotiations could be finished this year," he said.

On the occasion President Jokowi as he is also called expressed concern over the resolution of Norway parliament on palm oil.

He said the resolution ran counter to the spirit of REDD+ cooperation between Indonesia and Norway and negated efforts made by Indonesia with regard to overcoming climate change effects, environment protection and sustainable development.

"I believe the Norway government supports open and fair trade relations," he said.

The two leaders also discussed fisheries and marine resource sectors in the meeting. President Jokowi lauded increased intensity in the cooperation between the two countries in the sectors including Norways support to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in Indonesia.

"I wish to push for formalizing cooperation in the field covering IUU Fishing, fishery management, sustainable culture and sea protection," he said.

President Jokowi was flanked by foreign minister Retno Marsudi, finance minister Sri Mulyani, cabinet secretary Pramono Anung and head of Capital Investment Coordinating Board Thomas Lembong.
(Uu.H-YH/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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