We firmly believe that in political and economic terms, there is now a new world order. And we firmly believe that Indonesia is one of the main players now not only because it`s the fourth most populous country in the world but also because it has st
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa at a meeting with Finland`s European Affairs Minister Alexander Stubb here Monday agreed to strengthen their countries` bilateral trade and investment relations.

"Indonesia and Finland have always had close relations over the years. The purpose of the present visit of Minister Stubb and a Finnish business delegation is to increase the trade and investment relations between our countries," Minister Marty said.

The business delegation accompanying Stubb who is also Foreign Trade Minister represented various sectors of Finland`s economy such as energy, technology and information, communications, forestry and manufacturing.

He said he and the Finnish business delegation had also come to Indonesia to observe the existing trade and market opportunities.

"We firmly believe that in political and economic terms, there is now a new world order. And we firmly believe that Indonesia is one of the main players now not only because it`s the fourth most populous country in the world but also because it has strong economic growth," Stubb said.

Apart from discussing trade and economic relations, both ministers at their Tuesday meeting also discussed cooperation in the energy and environmental fields and other developments in Southeast Asia and Europe.

In the January-October period in 2011 bilateral trade between Indonesia and Finland reached a value of US$561.75 million. The number was higher compared to a corresponding period in the previous year at US$401.49 million. Indonesia exports animal fats, vegetable oils, furniture, footwear and wood-based products to Finland while the latter exports machinery, telecommunication devices and paper to Indonesia.

(A051/O001)

(T.A051/B/A051/O001) 24-01-2012 14:50:14

Editor: Ella Syafputri
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