"They have the ability in those fields and the world has recognized it. We have to learn a lesson from them," Gita said after opening an Indian business exhibition at the Kartini Hall here on Tuesday.
In the field of industrialization, India is more advanced than Indonesia. India is also prepared to assist Indonesia in those fields. Currently, the Indian economy is included in the world`s big 10.
"India and Indonesia are countries with rapid economic growth and could become economic leaders in Asia," the minister said.
Gita said that cooperation between the two countries had been going on for a long time, as it can be seen from the Indian influence on the Borobudur Buddhist Temple.
In the second millennium, the two countries had established trade relations during the Kingdom of Majapahit era and continued until the Dutch colonial time.
"Indonesian leader Soekarno and Indian leader Jawaharnal Nehru initiated the Afro-Asian Conference (in Indonesia in 1955)," he said.
Meanwhile, Indian Trade and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said that India had experienced rapid progress in the fields of technology and education.
"Education and technology will have greatest influences and become new forces in the future," Sharma said.
In recent years, India has also become a destination for Indonesian students who want to continue their studies. It is because India has many of the best universities in the world with relatively cheap tuition.
According to the Indonesian ambassador to India, Andi Ghalib, the excellence of education in India is proven with many Indian graduates occupying important positions at multi-national companies.
(Uu.A014/KR-BSR/INE/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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