RI, IRAN EXPAND ENERGY, ECONOMIC COOPERATION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 27 (Antara) - Indonesia and Iran have been discussing efforts to concretize plans to expand cooperation in the energy and other economic sectors, notably in the field of oil exploitation.         Through state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina, Indonesia is planning to invest in two Iranian oil fields, import gas from the Persian nation, and offer Iranian investors a chance to run oil refinery plants in Indonesia.         Besides the energy sector, the two countries are also discussing various other economic issues of mutual concerns, including efforts to accomplish the preferential trade agreement (PTA) between the two countries.         The expansion of cooperation plan was discussed between the two countries when Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) visited Iran in Dec last year. In order to concretize the plan, Indonesia sent a delegation to Tehran on Feb 26 and 27, 2017 to follow up the results of Jokowi's visit.          The Indonesian delegation was led by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution and included the deputy minister for energy and mineral resources, the Indonesian ambassador to Iran, a number of high Indonesian officials from relevant ministries/state institutions, and executives of state-owned companies (BUMN).