President Seeks to Boost Energy Ties with Indonesia

President Seeks to Boost Energy Ties with Indonesia
(Wednesday, May 24, 2023) 23:36

TEHRAN (NIPNA) – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that he aimed to expand cooperation with Indonesia in trade and economy, especially in the fields of energy, oil, gas and petrochemicals.

Raisi, who is on a two-day official visit to Indonesia at the invitation of his counterpart Joko Widodo, told reporters at Mehrabad airport that Indonesia was an important country in Southeast Asia and had a significant position in regional and international arrangements.

He said Iran had a comprehensive plan to connect with all Asian countries and that it wanted to define broader relations with Indonesia as a very important and prominent country in Southeast Asia.

He said the relations between the two countries could be pursued in trade and economic areas, particularly in energy, oil, gas and petrochemicals.

He said Iran had achieved great successes in its petrochemical industry and had exported $14 billion worth of products last year. He also said Iran had become self-sufficient in producing most of the catalysts it needed.

He said Iran's oil and gas industry needed investment for development and that it had offered a new model of contracts that would be appealing and sweet for investors.

"I believe there is no project for investors sweeter than investing in the oil, gas and petrochemical industry today," he said.

He also highlighted Iran's common views with Indonesia on regional and international issues, saying both countries were opposed to unilateralism and in favour of peace and sustainable security in the region. He said these common views would bring the two countries closer together.

Raisi arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday morning local time and was welcomed by Zulkifli Hasan, Indonesia's trade minister.

Meeting with Widodo and signing several cooperation documents between the two countries' officials, as well as meeting with the head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the speaker of the House of Representatives, the speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia and talks with Indonesian and Iranian traders and businessmen are part of Raisi's agenda during this visit.

Hossein Amirabdollahian, foreign minister, Javad Owji, petroleum minister, Gholamhossein Esmaili, chief of staff of the president's office, Isa Zarepour, communications and information technology minister, Rouhollah Dehqani Firoozabadi, vice president for science, technology and knowledge-based economy affairs of the president's office and Mohammad Jamshidi, political deputy of the president's office are accompanying Raisi on this trip.

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