TEMPO.CO, Bogor - Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said President Joko Widodo or Jokowi and Malaysia’s King Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al Mustafa Billah Shah canvassed the cooperation development of Pertamina and Petronas. The two state leaders determined to have ties in managing other projects outside their countries.

“So, if there is a chance for a project in other countries, they would have formed collaboration to manage it together,” said Minister Retno after joining the meeting in Bogor State Palace, West Java, Tuesday, August 27.

Retno explained that executive boards of the state-run oil and gas firm had met their Malaysia’s counterparts several times. However, the government suggested other meetings to take place to discuss possible joint projects.

According to the minister, the ties between the two firms has been running well as seen from the trade value of both that considerably huge. “In this year’s second semester, it reaches US$133 million. And the bargain will be continued for 2020 with a higher number,” she said.

The Indonesian government, she went on, sought closer cooperation between Pertamina and Petronas that was more than a trade. “We need a more strategic partnership, such as collaboration to manage third party’s projects.”

Minister Retno claimed to have collected several target countries to run the project at, yet refused to mention the names considering it was the authority of Pertamina and Petronas.

AHMAD FAIZ