This will ease the implementation of the next stages."Yangon (ANTARA News) - Indonesias deputy defense minister Sjafri Sjamsoeddin has commended Myanmars quick response to Indonesias offer to help that country meet its defense equipment needs.
"This will ease the implementation of the next stages," he said at a friendly gathering at the Indonesian embassy here on Saturday.
The event was also attended by Myanmarese ambassador to ASEAN Min Lwin and members, Evita Nursanty and Susaningtyas Nefo Handayani, of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission I that oversees defense issues, among others.
Sjafrie noted that his working visit to Myanmar from September 11 to 13 was a follow up of the meeting between Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Myanmars President U Thein Sein in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, in April 2013 to increase bilateral cooperation between the two countries, including the defense industry.
Sjafrie, who is also the secretary of the Committee on Defense Industry Policy, said Myanmar is the sixth ASEAN member country, besides Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Timor Leste, that has been taken by Indonesia for a roadshow of defense industry cooperation with ASEAN members.
He explained that the roadshow included promotion, observation, negotiation, and production, and the cooperation with Myanmar has already reached the second stage.
Sjafrie expressed optimism that the defense industry cooperation with Myanmar could be realized through a government-to-government scheme, in view of the bilateral relations between the two countries that has been continuing to develop since the first president Soekarnos era.
The event was highlighted by a briefing from Myanmars deputy finance minister Lei Lei Thein as chairman of Myanmars Investment Committee.
(Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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