Indonesia, Bahrain agree to increase economic cooperation

The Indonesian and Bahrain governments agreed to increase economic cooperation, during a meeting of the two foreign ministers in Manama, Bahrain, recently. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met with her Bahraini counterpart Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa as part of her working visit to the country, the Foreign Ministry said in a press statement released Wednesday.

She also held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sameer Abdulla Ahmed Nass.

The effort to enhance economic cooperation was the focus of the Indonesian foreign minister's working visit.

The two countries agreed to negotiate investment agreements and increase the direct contact between the businessmen of both countries.

Bahrain plans to send a trade mission to Indonesia this year.

The two foreign ministers also encouraged their respective governments to take part in defense exhibitions to be held in Bahrain in October and Indonesia in November this year.

"Cooperation in the aircraft industry, military uniforms and RBS 17 missile and helicopter C-130 maintenance is a concrete example of cooperation in the strategic industries that Indonesia and Bahrain can carry out," she said.

Indonesia and Bahrain launched diplomatic ties in 1976.

The trade between the two countries reached US$116.61 million in 2018 and US$206.3 million in 2017, according to the Indonesian Trade Ministry.

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