BRATISLAVA, October 9, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic has left for a visit to the Republic of Indonesia and the Philippines. Their aim is intensification of cooperation between Slovakia and these countries of Southeastern Asia. The Slovak president will be visiting these countries for the first time. President Gasparovic will begin his visit in Jakarta, Indonesia, in Sunday afternoon. He will remain in Indonesia until Wednesday, October 12, and then until Friday, October 14, he will be visiting the Philippines and return home on Saturday, October 15. The head of state is accompanied by Economy Minister Juraj Miskov and a group of Slovak businessmen and representatives of the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, press department of the presidential office in Bratislava informed SITA news agency.
For the Slovak president, this is the first ever state visit to Indonesia. Its mission is „primarily sending a strong political signal that Slovakia is interested in developing and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation with this important country in South East Asia with a growing economic potential, “ the presidential office informed. In the capital Jakarta, President Gasparovic will meet with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The program also includes talks with the Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament Marzuki Alie and other representatives of the country. During the state visit, several bilateral agreements will be signed. The president with his delegation will also visit a special region of Yogyakarta, where he will meet with the governor and visit the area destroyed by the eruption of the volcano Merapi in October of last year.
Trade relations between Slovakia and Indonesia have a long history. Bilateral trade has been growing despite the crisis, but in recent years the trade balance is highly in favor of Indonesia. Talks that President Gasparovic and Economy Minister Miskov will hold with Indonesian officials and the Economic Forum on the second day of the visit in Jakarta, should be an incentive to deepen economic contacts. Slovakia sees prospects for cooperation in areas including the energy sector, construction sector, cement production and wastewater treatment facilities.
On October 12, with the Slovak president with his delegation will move to Manila, the capital of the Philippines. There President Gasparovic will be received by President Benigno S. Aquino III. He will also meet with the Speaker of Parliament Feliciano Belmonte, and other state representatives. „Slovakia sees the Philippines as a country of growing importance in international relations, contributing to stability and further integration of South East Asia. This official visit of the president and his talks with state officials of the Philippines should be a political signal of our interest in developing cooperation with this country – from partner political dialogue and economic cooperation to cooperation in the field of culture and education. At the current stage, Slovakia is prepared to continue to identify realistic potential for economic cooperation and finding areas of common interest, „said presidential office in Bratislava.
SITA