Retno and Milner discussed on how to increase cooperation between Indonesia and Salomon Islands, particularly through capacity building and technical efforts, said statement of the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry received here on Sunday.
Both ministers agreed to accelerate several Memoranda of Understanding or MoU in various development cooperation, visa exemption for diplomatic and passport service as well as cooperation in education sector.
The Retnos visit to Salomon Islands is also to affirm Indonesian commitment to enhance cooperation, relation and contribution to the development in Pacific area.
The foreign affairs ministers considered that there are several potentials in cooperation between the countries which have not been utilized yet. Thus, the ministers agreed to urge private sectors to make use of the good opportunities.
Indonesia-Salomon agreed to hold technical team meeting in 2015 to discuss capacity building cooperation that can be utilized for the development of Salomon Islands.
Both foreign ministers also praised the capacity building cooperation that has been done in 2014. There are 22 programs of capacity building that have been implemented such as in education, fishery, agriculture as well as the small and medium scale of Enterprise or SME sectors.
Indonesia also assisted technical cooperation worth US$20 million for the capacity building development program.
Both ministers also agreed to involve Indonesia in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting by intensifying communication with regard to the MSG issues.
Milner also invites Retno to attend the MSG Meeting in July 2015 in Salomon Islands where Indonesia will become the observer in the meeting.
Minister Retno also conducted honorary visit to the Salomon Deputy Prime Minister Douglas Ete.
Retno delivered invitation to Douglas to attend the Commemoration of the 60 years of the Asia Africa Conference on April 19-24, 2015.
(UU.B019/b003/B003)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
