I hope the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation can be inked soon."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is eying cooperation with South Korea in the transportation field in a bid to solve its transportation problems.

"I hope the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation can be inked soon," the countrys Deputy Transportation Minister Bambang Susantono noted in a statement received here on Saturday.

The deputy minister had earlier met with South Korean Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Hyung Koo Yeo to discuss cooperation in the development of transportation infrastructure, especially railways, among several others.

He welcomed the South Korean initiative to cooperate in the development of railway infrastructure.

Susantono noted that the cooperation can be realized through government-to-government, business-to-business, and research institution-to-research institution schemes.

While awaiting the signing of the MoU, technical talks need to be undertaken during inter-ministerial meetings, he emphasized.

Indonesia plans to follow South Korea in the development of information technology (IT) in the transportation sector, as the country has vast experience in overcoming its transportation problems, which are similar to the problems currently faced by Indonesia.

"In the 1980s, South Korea also faced traffic problems, which are currently faced by cities in Indonesia," stated Indonesias Transportation Minister EE Mangindaan.

He pointed out that several countries, such as Germany, have been able to implement IT in the transportation sector, but Indonesia chose to follow South Korea.

Mangindaan stressed that South Korea is one of the countries that has successfully integrated different modes of transportation and developed IT in the sector.

"The South Korean government has successfully developed IT-based smart cities through inter-sectoral cooperation between central, regional, research institutions, and private sectors," the minister remarked.

(Reporting by Muhammad Razi Rahman/Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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