TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is set to commence cooperation with Romania in education and training for the transportation sector - a move which is hoped to deepen each nation's role as each other's 'consultant, investor, and operator'.

"By commencing business contact in the earliest stages of education and training, Indonesia could establish a more solid business relationship with Romania," said Transport Minister, Budi Karya Sumadi, through a release received by Tempo on Friday, October 14, 2016.

The cooperation agreement was reached after Budi received Romania's Foreign Affairs Minister, Lazar Comanescu, and the Romanian Ambassador for Indonesia, Valerica Epure, at the Transport Ministry on Wednesday, October 12, 2016.

In addition to cooperation in the transportation sector, the Romanian government is also intent on establishing and increasing cooperation in the maritime sector - especially in the construction, development, and management of Indonesian ports and harbours.

"I will ask the Transport Minister and the Director General for Asia at Romania's Foreign Affairs Ministry to work closely with the Indonesian Ambassador for Romania to follow up on the matter," said Comanescu.

Budi has welcomed the move - and said that he will ask the Romanian Ambassador to Indonesia to communicate with the Director General for Maritime Transport at the Transport Ministry, as well as other state-owned port authorities and operators.

Indonesia has a long-standing relationship with Romania - with political, economic, and social cooperation and relationship dating back as early as the 1950s - and continues to regularly hold a Bilateral Consultation Forum.

The most recent - the 6th Bilateral Consultation Forum - was held in Bucharest, Romania, on June 18, 2015.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO | RR ARIYANI