JAIPUR: Indonesia has sought Indian investment in linking its islands to open up a land route to that country from here. Starting with a project of linking the Java and Sumatra islands, Indonesia proposes to have road connectivity with all the countries in Asia, an important aspect in furthering trade and tourism on the continent.
A parliamentary delegation of members of the House of Regional Representatives, led by H. Ahmad Jajuli, Member of the Upper House, which is on a visit to Rajasthan, while interacting with the members of the trade bodies and the media here on Tuesday said a bridge was being planned between the major islands of Java and Sumatra which in future would facilitate a road journey from India's eastern parts to Indonesia.
We plan to make road links to not only India but also to other Asian countries. The route for Indians to reach Indonesia would be via Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, said Andi M. Ghalib, the Indonesian Ambassador to India, who is accompanying the delegation.
Linking the countries of the Asian continent would benefit us all. It is going to be a very big market, Gen. (Retd). Ghalib noted.
Mr. Jajuli and other members felt that the visa relaxation carried out by the Indian Government for visitors from Indonesia in January this year during the visit of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and the proposed direct flights to New Delhi and Mumbai by June by Indonesia's Garuda would go a long way in facilitating traffic between the two countries in the near future.
At present more Indians visit Indonesia than people from our country visiting India. Now their number must be around a lakh. In the near future it is bound to increase, Gen. Ghalib said. India and Indonesia have many things in common including a similar culture and shared history of language and art traditions, besides being the two largest democracies. Union Minister Kamal Nath some time back predicted that in the next seven years India would be the biggest investor in Indonesia, he pointed out.
The delegation, comprising Aidil Fitrisyah, MP from Jawa, K. H. Sofyan Yahya, MP from Sumatra, MPs Rugas Binti and H Mahyudin Shobri, said their intention was also to explore the possibilities in trade and business between individual Indian States and Indonesia.
The growth rate of Indonesia at 6-7 per cent now was somewhat similar to that of India. The members termed the potential areas of business in iron ore, coal, palm oil, rubber, coco, fisheries and in IT. Indian companies like Reliance, Adani Group, Tata Power, BHEL, GVK, HCL and Pipavav Shipyard Limited among others have already signed MoUs with Indonesian companies and the Government while the companies of Laxmi Mittal, businessman of Rajasthani origin, were already there doing business, the delegates pointed out.
The delegation also interacted with the House Committee of the Rajasthan Assembly during the day.
A parliamentary delegation of members of the House of Regional Representatives, led by H. Ahmad Jajuli, Member of the Upper House, which is on a visit to Rajasthan, while interacting with the members of the trade bodies and the media here on Tuesday said a bridge was being planned between the major islands of Java and Sumatra which in future would facilitate a road journey from India's eastern parts to Indonesia.
We plan to make road links to not only India but also to other Asian countries. The route for Indians to reach Indonesia would be via Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, said Andi M. Ghalib, the Indonesian Ambassador to India, who is accompanying the delegation.
Linking the countries of the Asian continent would benefit us all. It is going to be a very big market, Gen. (Retd). Ghalib noted.
Mr. Jajuli and other members felt that the visa relaxation carried out by the Indian Government for visitors from Indonesia in January this year during the visit of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and the proposed direct flights to New Delhi and Mumbai by June by Indonesia's Garuda would go a long way in facilitating traffic between the two countries in the near future.
At present more Indians visit Indonesia than people from our country visiting India. Now their number must be around a lakh. In the near future it is bound to increase, Gen. Ghalib said. India and Indonesia have many things in common including a similar culture and shared history of language and art traditions, besides being the two largest democracies. Union Minister Kamal Nath some time back predicted that in the next seven years India would be the biggest investor in Indonesia, he pointed out.
The delegation, comprising Aidil Fitrisyah, MP from Jawa, K. H. Sofyan Yahya, MP from Sumatra, MPs Rugas Binti and H Mahyudin Shobri, said their intention was also to explore the possibilities in trade and business between individual Indian States and Indonesia.
The growth rate of Indonesia at 6-7 per cent now was somewhat similar to that of India. The members termed the potential areas of business in iron ore, coal, palm oil, rubber, coco, fisheries and in IT. Indian companies like Reliance, Adani Group, Tata Power, BHEL, GVK, HCL and Pipavav Shipyard Limited among others have already signed MoUs with Indonesian companies and the Government while the companies of Laxmi Mittal, businessman of Rajasthani origin, were already there doing business, the delegates pointed out.
The delegation also interacted with the House Committee of the Rajasthan Assembly during the day.
