INDONESIA, JORDAN COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING BILATERAL TIES by Fardah

   Jakarta, Feb 26, 2014 (Antara) - Visiting King of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono agreed to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations in various fields, including in defense, economic and investment.

         "Of course, we must strengthen further our bilateral relations.  I am also eager to hear directly from His Excellency on the latest situation in the Middle East," President Yudhoyono said when welcoming the King at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday (Feb. 26).      

    The two leaders discussed efforts to intensify the bilateral relations and the current developments in their respective regions, particularly the Middle East.

         Jordan is currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2014-2015, representing Arab, Asia and the Far East.   
    The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional monarchy. The country has a population of 6.3 million, and its gross domestic product (GDP) reaches US$ 31.02 billion.

         King Abdullah II's two-day visit is his second coming to Indonesia during the Yudhoyono administration. His first visit was in October 2005, after which, Yudhoyono made a reciprocal visit to Jordan in May 2006.

         In 1995, the then Prince Abdullah had made a five-day visit to Indonesia at the invitation of the then research and technology minister, BJ Habibie.

         "The second visit of the Jordanian King to Indonesia reflects the serious commitment to strengthening the bilateral relations that have been developing soundly so far," presidential special staff for international relations Teuku Faizasyah stated earlier.

         Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during the meeting with King Abdullah II, told the press that the bilateral cooperation between the two countries has been very positive so far.

         The exports of Indonesia to Jordan consist of, among others things, wood and wood-based products, textiles and garments, palm oil, furniture, tea, and coffee.  Meanwhile, the products that Indonesia imports from Jordan include potash, phosphate, salt, and products from the Dead Sea.

         Currently, Indonesia is Jordan's biggest trade partner in South East Asia with their trade value reaching US$500 million and investment at US$211.9 million.

         According to data of the Investment Coordination Board, Jordanian investment in Indonesia is ranked 15th.

         King Abdullah II sees potential in Indonesia as a country that has advanced economic development and Jordan should utilize the opportunity. 
    PT Pupuk Kalimantan Timur (PKT) in cooperation with Jordan Phospate Mines Co Plc (JPMC) will build a factory to produce phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid in Bontang, East Kalimantan.

         The subsidiary of state fertilizer company PT Pupuk Indonesia Holding Company (PIHC) signed a joint venture agreement with the Jordan company to construct the factory which will cost around US$300 millions, PKT President Aas Asikin Idat said.

         The joint venture company will be 60 percent owned by PKT and 40 percent by JPMC. The factory will have a production capacity of 200,000 tons of phosphoric acid  and 600,000 tons of sulfuric acid a year.

         Meanwhile, during the bilateral meeting with the president, King Abdullah II specifically mentioned about the presence of around 40,000 Indonesian workers (TKI) in his country.

         "Specifically, King Abdullah is committed to the best possible attention to Indonesian migrant workers in Jordan," said Teuku Faizasyah to the media.

         On the occasion,  President Yudhoyono expressed his special appreciation to Queen of Jordan Rania Al-Abdullah for her significant contribution in the discussions of the UN Development Agenda.  
    President Yudhoyono, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and British Prime Minister David Cameron were co-chairs of the United Nations High-Level Panel (UN HLP) of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

         Besides cooperating in the field of economy Minister Marty Natalegawa pointed out that Indonesia and Jordan also initiated cooperation in the field of defense by developing a defense industry network between the two countries as well as with other countries that have common interests.

         "It was discussed in general just now. The defense minister has been asked to go to Jordan in May to deepen the cooperation, to create a kind of network for defense industry like Airbus in Europe, where several countries are involved in the cooperation network. To involve the defense industries in the cooperation, focus may possibly be put on sectors such as certain weapons or certain markets," the minister added.

         Indonesia participated as observer in the joint military exercise "Eager Lion 2013" conducted in Jordan.  The US, Egypt, France, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates also joined the exercise.

   
                                            Syrian conflicts
    When discussing the latest situation in the Middle East region, Indonesia and Jordan shared the view that a political solution must be found to settle conflicts in Syria to prevent increasing number of casualties.

         "The development in Syria has been thoroughly discussed. We especially learnt of the assessment from Jordan regarding the things that are needed to tackle the problem in the future," Teuku Faizasyah said.

         The two leaders discussed the Geneva peace process meeting and strongly believed that political solution is a must for solving the prolonged Syrian conflicts.

         King Abdullah II's agenda in Jakarta also delivering a key note address at an interfaith peace conference entitled "Islam for Peace and Civilization," organized by Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

         In the speech, the King highlighted the role of Islam in achieving the renaissance of the Muslim world, despite the challenges it has been facing, and the Islamic values of tolerance, justice and equality.

         The Jordanian King's entourage during the visit to Indonesia included Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Chief of the Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan Fayez A. Tarawneh, Foreign Affairs Minster Nasser Judeh, as well as Industry and Trade Minister Hatim Al Hawalani. 
    Indonesia is historically and culturally close to the Middle Eastern countries, including Jordan. Jordan and Indonesia established diplomatic ties in 1950 and since then the relations have been progressing well. ***1***
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