Lastly, around 1.52 million Singaporeans visited Indonesia in 2014, hence constituting the largest contributor to foreign visitor arrivals in Indonesia.
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In fact, Mr Iswaran pointed out that last year, Singapore was Indonesia’s top foreign investor with total investments of US$5.8 billion, a 25 per cent increase from 2013.
“The Indonesia President has expressed his hope that the targets of the economic cooperation between the two countries to be met.”Marsudi said”.
Moazzam Malik, the British Ambassador for Indonesia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Timor Leste, on Sunday said that Britain was keen to offer Indonesia its vast expertise in a number of areas – specifically in maritime infrastructure development and maritime defense, satellite technology and public-private partnerships to finance infrastructure projects.
No doubt about it, said Mr Joko: the Indonesian economy will double in size.
Cameron is scheduled to attend a business forum and meet with religious leaders Tuesday before leaving for Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.
Singapore firms that have made major investments in Indonesia of late include Ascendas, CapitaLand, Keppel Land and Sembcorp while SMEs like Tat Wai, Cyclect, Flagship Ecosystems and Love, Bonito have partnered with local Indonesian firms to gain access to the market.
Joko was on his introductory State Visit to Singapore and earlier this morning, he was given a ceremonial welcome by President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam.
“They also underscore the inter-connected nature of the relationship, and the efforts of both governments to bring about mutual benefits for the people of Singapore and Indonesia”.
Besides economic ties, both leaders underscored the importance of bilteral cooperation in combatting the growing threat of extremist terrorism, noting that there were citizens from both countries linked to the Islamic State militant group.
The three agreements highlighted “the breadth and depth of the close cooperation which Singapore and Indonesia have enjoyed over many years”, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singapore.
Mr Joko is accompanied by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo and a high-level ministerial delegation.
British Prime Minister David Cameron, who arrives today for a two-day official visit, hopes it will lead to a flourishing of new ties and the strengthening of old ones that date back almost 200 years.
Mr Lee said he hosted Mr Joko and his wife to a nasi lemak breakfast during a private visit here.
“My family and I like Singapore”.
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“I say to my ministers if you want to introduce a regulation, you want to cut two regulations first”.
