S Africa, Riau Islands to Cooperate in Trade and Tourism

Batam, Riau Islands, July 13 (Antara Kepri) - The South African government and Riau Islands Provincial government have agreed to cooperate in trade and tourism cooperation which will be put into a Memorandum of Understanding.

The South African Ambassador for Indonesia, Timor Leste and ASEAN, Noel N Lehoko said here on Friday that his government will continue the plan to establish a cooperation with Riau Islands.

The South Africa chose to establish cooperation with Riau Islands, because the young province is considered economically successful as shown in the provincial growth that is above national average and reached nine percents.

Chairman of Riau Islands Provincial Investment Coordinating Board Jon Arizal said that Riau Islands welcome the cooperation plan that will be signed in September 2013.

"South Africa wants to learn from us, because Riau Islands is considered good economically and the investment climate," he said.

To enhance the agreement between the two sides, the Riau Islands  will form a small task force led by Assistant of Economic and Development affairs, Robert Iwan.

The cooperation between the two sides is also facilitated by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, he said.

Aside from the trade and tourism cooperation, Jon believed the South African sides will also learn about other Riau Islands potential, such as farming and agriculture.

"All the possibility will be followed after the MoU between the two sides. And we hope, in the near future the MoU will be signed," he said.

The South African Ambassador visited to Amlang Batam is the follow up of the previous visit in March 13 2013. (Gilang/Bustanuddin)