Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno LP Marsudi, has said that one of the countrys fertilizer firms, PT Pupuk Kujang, was exploring an investment in Laos, which has potassium natural resources.

"PT Pupuk Kujang has a plan to invest there (in Laos). Hence, there has been early discussion since a long time," Marsudi, who accompanied Vice President Jusuf Kalla, stated when receiving the Lao Foreign Minister, Saleumxay Kommasith, at the vice president office here on Thursday.

Marsudi noted that intensive talks between the two countries regarding the planned investment has been conducted, adding that Kommasith is also expected at PT Pupuk Kujang.

"Tomorrow, he (Kommasith) will come there (PT Pupuk Kujang) to have a look at the facility and capacity of PT Pupuk Kujang, and hopefully, this will end with our investment there (Laos), because some of ASEAN countries have also began to invest," Marsudi explained.

She further said that in addition to PT Pupuk Kujang, PT Pertamina and PT Antam are also exploring to invest in Laos. Pertamina, according to Marsudi, has been keen to invest in its retail business (oil and gas), and PT Antam is eyeing investment in gold mining.

The 60th celebration of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Laos is expected to be a momentum to encourage the realization of such investments.

Marsudi also encouraged that the 5th meeting of the joint commission for bilateral cooperation (JCBC) between the two countries, which was held in Jakarta on July 26 and 27, 2017, would be able to realize the planned investment.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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