Indonesian President meets Qatar Emir

INDONESIA: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani in Jakarta Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations and investment, an official said.

“The two leaders agreed to strengthen efforts and increase the volume of (bilateral) trade,” presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said.

The leaders discussed progress on a one billion dollar joint venture for investment set up by the two countries in 2006 and 85-percent funded by Qatar, Djalal said.

Al-Thani also expressed interest in buying a number of Indonesian-made CASA/IPTN CN-235 transport aircraft, he said.

“This was a surprise for the president. He didn’t say how many he wanted to buy but he did convey he wanted to buy them,” Djalal said.

Yudhoyono also praised Qatar for its mediation role in conflicts in the Middle East and Sudan.

Bilateral trade between Southeast Asia’s biggest economy and the Middle Eastern oil emirate was 348.56 million dollars in 2008, according to government figures.

The Qatari leader is set to leave Indonesia later Tuesday after a two-day visit.

Jakarta,Tuesday, AFP