A press release received by Antara here on Friday mentioned that Luhut held three bilateral meetings with Minister of State of Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha; Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu; and Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Minister of Shipping Nitin Jairam Gadkari, who also concurrently Minister of Water Resources, Rural Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
In the series of bilateral talks, there were some opportunities for cooperation between the two countries, such as aircraft industry, drones, palm oil, generic drug production, training on human resources development in maritime, waste plastic processing into energy, river cleaning and biodiesel technology.
The Indian government also expressed interest in investing in the westernmost area of Indonesia.
"The India`s investment plan in Sabang (Aceh) is in the form of a hospital and a sea port there because it is close to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands," Luhut noted.
He welcomed the plans because the cooperation between the two countries is expected to have an impact on the security and stability in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.
"I think it is important to build balance power be built here, so that no superpower could create instability," he said.
Furthermore, in the tourism sector, the ministers discussed about the opening of direct flight routes from Delhi or Mumbai to Jakarta, Bali, Medan (North Sumatra), or other cities in Indonesia.
Such plan is a great potential considering the high number of foreign tourists from India visiting Indonesia that recorded at some 485,000 people in 2017.
"The total number of tourists from India to Indonesia increased by 28 percent in 2017," Luhut noted.
According to him, India`s technological advantages as affordable, functional, and in line with Indonesia`s needs.
"They make their products affordable, suitable, but functional, which I think is important for a developing country like us. So do not look at the luxuries we do not need," he said.
As a follow up of this visit, the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs will send a technical team back to India next week.
The concrete cooperation opportunities will be discussed at the head of government level, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits to Indonesia on May 30, 2018.
Reporter: Ade Irma Junida
Editor: Bambang Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
