"The US commitment will be carried in an action plan expected to be signed by Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa and his US counterpart Hillary Clinton during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and 18th ASEAN Regional Forum in Bali on July 18-23, 2011," Ngurah said.
He said the cooperation in SMEs between Indonesia and the US would cover the 2011-2015 period with emphasis on developing ASEAN`s SMEs as well as for closer contact between American SME entrepreneurs and their Indonesian counterparts.
Ngurah said the new cooperation with the US would be beneficial to Indonesia for it had some success stories that can be shared with Indonesian entrepreneurs. Asked about the concrete form of the US commitment, he said it is still being discussed.
He added that the upcoming Action Plan on the future cooperation between Indonesia and the US would also include planning develop cooperation in the economy, health, security and environment.
"In the security sector, both countries agree to improve cooperation in eradicating terrorism and transnational crime as well as to promote democracy and protection of human rights. Both countries also agree to cooperate in handling the negative effects of climate change, transnational diseases and disaster management," said Ngurah.
(Uu.A051/H-NG/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
