REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia and Suriname commit to boost cooperation on economy, trade and agriculture following the meeting between Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa and his counterpart Minister Winston G. Lackin, on Monday.

"We are optimistic that both countries can build beneficial relations because we are bonded by history and culture since the first Javanese immigrants arrived in Suriname on 1980s," Natalegawa said after signing "Joint Activities to Strengthen Bilateral Consultation and Communication" agreement with Lackin.

Suriname is an important trade partner for Indonesia despite its small trade value, which is only 8.9 million USD in 2012. However Suriname is a new destination country for Indonesia export, a shift policy to reduce Indonesian dependency on traditional market such as Europe and US.

Indonesian export commodities to Suriname are, among others, textile, especially batik, and furniture. Meanwhile, Suriname exports dried fruits and fertilizer.

Lackin said both countries must boost the relations due to similar interest on facing developed countries. Indonesia also has special bond with Suriname because of history. Currently about 15 percent of Suriname people and seven ministers in the cabinet have Javanese blood. Lackin said that he was proud of them.

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