JAKARTA: India and Indonesia decided on Monday to step up economic cooperation and work together in meeting fresh threats posed by global terrorism, as exemplified by the recent Mumbai terror attacks.
In a joint statement issued here at the Istana Merdeka, the gracious Presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesian President Susilo Bangbang Yudhoyono and President Pratibha Patil said they would take steps to increase the trade between the two countries to $10 billion by 2010. It was $6 billion in 2007.
The statement was issued just before Ms. Patil left Indonesia after curtailing her visit in the wake of the Mumbai terror strike.
Both the Presidents wanted to take substantive steps to take forward the strategic partnership, signed during the 2005 visit of the Indonesian President to India.
“I invite greater investment from India in manufacturing, transport, and renewable energy,” Mr. Yudhoyono said. “Our bilateral meeting also resolved to increase interest in education, youth and sports, agriculture, film and tourism.”
Offering his condolences on the death of the former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, whom he described as “a statesman and friend of Indonesia,” and to the victims of the terror attacks, he said the two countries would “reinforce cooperation in fighting international terrorism of which Mumbai is an example.”
Ms. Patil thanked Indonesia for its “strong condemnation of the Mumbai incident and the solidarity expressed with India.”