Myanmar President Thein Sein hosted Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Credentials Hall of the Presidential Palace on Tuesday evening following a day when the two countries signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and discussed bilateral trade.
Myanmar President Thein Sein, right, shakes hands with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yuhoyono during their meeting at Presidential House Tuesday, April 23, 2013, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. (AP Photo)
Speaking to Mizzima ahead of attending the MoU signing ceremonies, an official from the Ministry of Commerce said, “An agreement for Indonesia to invest in Myanmar’s electrical power sector will be signed at the Shwenandaw Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw at 2pm.”
MoUs were also due to be signed confirming Myanmar’s intent to import chemical fertilisers while Jakarta was to agree to import Myanmar rice.
“Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation will henceforth export 300,000 tons of rice to Indonesia,” said Dr Soe Tun, a spokesman for the corporation.
The Indonesian President was on a two-day visit to Myanmar ahead of attending an Asean summit in Brunei on April 24.
According to state-run The New Light of Myanmar on Wednesday, the Myanmar president called for boosting bilateral cooperation in tourism, transportation, livestock and fishery, agriculture, energy and electricity sectors.
“He said scholarships and cooperation for promotion of technology sector would be welcomed,” the report said.
The Myanmar daily said that President Yudhoyono vowed to increase economic cooperation in line with Myanmar’s reforms. “He also promised to push Indonesia’s public and private firms to invest in Myanmar,” and set a target trade volume of $1 billion for 2014.
“He concluded his discussion with wishes for a successful holding of XXVII SEA Games in 2013 in Myanmar and Asean Chairmanship in 2014,” the New Light of Myanmar said.
On Tuesday, Reuters reported that the Indonesian President said he would urge Myanmar's leaders to address Buddhist-led violence against Muslims.
No mention was made of such a discussion in the New Light report.
