BOGOR, Indonesia: East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta said on Wednesday (Jul 19) throughout a visit to Indonesia that he hoped to boost industry ties between the countries and seal the decades-long bid simply by his nation to participate the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) next year.
Ramos-Horta met his counterpart Joko Widodo on his very first state visit to adjoining Indonesia since he or she was elected in April for a 2nd stint as chief executive.
He earlier served as president of East Timor, which is also known as Timor Leste, between 2007 and 2012.
“Timor Leste as part of Southeast Asia offers fulfilled many of the specifications necessary for a functioning economy and democracy so… will be an effective member of ASEAN, inch he said, observing he hoped his young country can join the group whenever Indonesia takes over the presidency next year.
East Timor, which usually applied for ASEAN a regular membership in 2011, currently holds observer status.
Speaking at the president palace in Bogor, south of Jakarta, the Indonesian president said his nation had invested US$818 million in East Timor, mainly in energy, banking and communication businesses.
“We’ve agreed to increase trade between each countries, ” mentioned Widodo, who is widely known as Jokowi.
Official Indonesia data shows trade between your countries was really worth around US$250 mil last year.
Heavily dependent on revenue from oil and gas, the half-island nation of 1. 3 or more million people provides grappled with diversifying its economy and reducing high rates of poverty.
Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony in 1975 and East Timor only acquired full independence within 2002 after a lengthy and bloody struggle to end an usually brutal occupation.
Ramos-Horta, who gained a Nobel Peacefulness Prize for his peaceful efforts to end the conflict, mentioned he welcomed deepening trade ties with Jakarta and Indonesia’s commitment to Eastern Timor joining the particular 10-member ASEAN regional grouping.