Indonesia, Sweden sign three agreements

Indonesia and Sweden here, Monday, inked three agreements, particularly related to foreign policy as well as the transportation and creative industries.

The signing of the agreements was held during the meeting between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Bogor Palace on Monday.

"I welcome the signing of three agreements on providing visa-free facility for diplomatic and official passport holders; transportation, including air navigation and airports; as well as creative industries," President Widodo noted here on Monday.

Indonesias Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi and Swedish Infrastructure Minister Anna Johansson signed a visa-free facility agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan and Swedish Infrastructure Minister Anna Johansson signed a transportation agreement.

Head of the Creative Economy Agency Triawan Munaf and Infrastructure Minister Anna Johansson signed an agreement for cooperation in the creative industry.

"Currently, Indonesia is offering opportunities to invest in the infrastructure and energy sectors. These are opportunities for us to work together to find sustainable solutions," Swedish King Gustaf noted.

King Gustaf said Indonesia has expressed interest to undertake exchanges in the fields of education and research, including forestry.

"Sweden holds just under one percent of the worlds commercial forest area, but we are major exporters of forest products. Sustainable forest projects are very important for Sweden and Indonesia," King Gustaf remarked.

On the occasion, President Widodo has conferred the Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipura, or Star of the Republic of Indonesia, on King Gustaf.

The award was bestowed for King Gustafs contribution to boosting bilateral relations between the two countries.

Meanwhile, President Widodo also received the Royal Order of the Seraphim, the highest medal awarded to a head of a foreign country by the Royal Family of Sweden, from King Gustaf.

King Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden are on a state visit to Indonesia on May 22-24, 2017, to strengthen relations and intensify cooperation between the two countries.

Around 35 big companies from Sweden are part of the kings delegation to attend the Indonesian Sweden Executive Forum.

On the second day, the king and queen will participate in the Hackhaton event held to tackle the traffic problem in Jakarta and will inaugurate the Indonesian-Sweden Business Executive Forum focused on digitalization, infrastructure, and welfare and will be followed by a visit to the Indonesia Port Cooperation in Tanjung Priok.

Furthermore, King Gustaf and Queen Silvia will attend a luncheon with Jakartas Governor Djarot Syaiful Hidayat at the Old City area, followed by a creativity seminar and a visit to the open library at Manggarai.

Both are also scheduled to attend a "roundtable discussion" with Womens Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise.

During the third day of their visit, King Gustaf and Queen Silvia will travel to Bandung aboard a train and meet Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil, followed by a visit to the Asia-Africa and Persib Bandung Museum.

The delegation will also witness the signing of the Linkedin portal Sweden-Indonesia Connect memorandum of understanding to link the alumni with Swedish Indonesian companies and will attend the triple helix seminar at the Bandung Institute of Technology.(*)

Source: ANTARA