Kazakhstan Sees RI as Important Partner

Astana (Antara Bali) - Kazakhstan has regarded Indonesia as one of its important trade partners because of its potential commodities and opportunities offered for mutually beneficial cooperation.

"Kazakhstan sees Indonesia as an important partner," said Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov at a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here on Tuesday.

With regard to President Yudhoyono's visit, he said it was very important. He believes cooperation between the two countries would continue to improve in line with the commitment of the two countries' leaders.

About his meeting with Kazakhstan's president Nursultan Nazarbayev on Monday, President Yudhoyono said it was very good and had opened a new page for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

"Kazakhstan has grown remarkably in the field of economy, has huge potentials, which if managed well would certainly bring good things for the two countries," he said.

Besides receiving the Kazakh prime minister President Yudhoyono on Tuesday also a delegation of Kazakh economic committee and several businessmen.

"I think all parties have known there are cooperation opportunities in Indonesia that could be taken such as in the fields of energy, food, transportation and tourism. Opportunities are also available in food, cotton, pharmaceutical industries as well as other businesses that could be carried out in Kazakhstan or Indonesia," he said.

President Yudhoyono said cotton, palm oil and flour related businesses could also be further developed through meetings between Indonesian and Kazakh businessmen.

Trade between the two countries reached US$63.1 million in 2012 rising 90 percent from US$33.1 million in 2011, according to Indonesia's ministry of trade data. The trade increased 16.8 percent in the past five years.

Indonesia however still suffered a deficit of US$46 million in its trade with Kazakhstan with its main imports consisting of zinc, flat rolled iron and cotton from that country.  
     
Indonesia's exports to Kazakhstan were recorded at US$8.4 million consisting of printing machines, electronic goods, tobacco, palm oil and auto spare parts.

According to Indonesia's National Bureau of Statistics trade between the two countries in 2012 reached US$75 million rising around 94 percent from US$38.7 million in 2011.

Kazakhstan enjoyed a surplus of US$530,00 in the trade in the period with Indonesia's exports to that country reaching US$37.970 and imports US$37.440 million.

The difference of recording occurred because trade between the two countries has so far been done through a third country.

President Yudhoyono is scheduled to leave Kazakhstan for Poland on Tuesday evening before proceeding to Russia for the G-20 summit. (*/DWA)