TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia and Bosnia have signed an agreement to strengthen economic ties.

“We have invited business owners in Bosnia and Herzegovina to attend Trade Expo Indonesia 2017,” Foreign Ministry’s director general of American and European Affairs Muhammad Anshor said in a press release in Jakarta on Friday, April 14, 2017.

Earlier on Thursday, April 13, 2017, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry and the Bosnia-Herzegovina Foreign Ministry sit in the first Bilateral Consultation Forum (FKB) held in Jakarta.

According to Anshor, included in the efforts to strengthen economic ties between the two countries is to bridge communication between business owners of the two countries. Back in 2004, chambers of commerce and industry of the two countries signed a memorandum understanding.

Anshor said that governments of the two countries used the forum to exchange views related to domestic development, cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, trade, investment, education, and culture.

“The FKB is also focused on assessing the development of bilateral relationship and cooperation, as well as other important matters,” he added.

Attending the forum were Indonesian delegations led by Anshor and Bosnian delegations led by Foreign Ministry assistant for bilateral affairs and economic diplomacy Amer Kapetanovi.

During his visit to Indonesia, Mr. Kapetanovi met with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir. The Investment Coordinating Board’s (BKPM) deputy for investment control and implementation, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman, as well as coffee and palm oil exporters associations.

The bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Herzegovina started on April 11, 1994, after the Indonesian government acknowledged Bosnia independence on May 20, 1992.

ANTARA