Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and visiting French Prime Minister Francois Fillon agreed Friday to establish a strategic partnership to boost co-operation between the two nations. "Indonesia has become a great emerging country...which takes great responsibilities on the world stage," Fillon said, as the leaders attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy, tourism, education, culture, and transport infrastructure development.
President Yudhoyono said he hoped that this visit, the first from a French Prime Minister in 61 years, will bring "new momentum" and increase co-operation between both countries. "I invited French investors to seek new opportunity in Indonesia for the mutual interest," Yudhoyono said, adding that joint trade was $2.5 billion in 2010, with France ranked 13th among foreign investors.
Investment Co-ordinating Board chairman Gita Wirjawan said earlier on Friday that French companies were interested in investing in a $2 billion geothermal power project in Indonesia. "I hope we can reach an agreement on geothermal this year. We have to discuss further. It could be on Sumatra, Java or Bali islands," he told reporters after meeting French businessmen who accompanied the Premier.
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