TEHRAN: As two developing Muslim countries, Iran and Indonesia have always enjoyed many commonalities. The Islamic Republic of Iran as one of the most distinguished countries in the region is now in a path that Indonesia experienced in terms of growth in gross domestic product over past few years. The Iranian and Indonesian officials have always expanded their interactions since Indonesian President Joko Widodo took office concurrent with President Hassan Rouhani’s second year in office. The visit by President Rouhani to Indonesia in May 2015 and the reciprocal visit by President Widodo to Iran in December 2016 as well as exchange of visits by the two countries’ other officials show their political will to boost their interactions. As one of the main poles of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia, experienced a six percent growth in gross domestic product (GDP) between 2008 and 2013 and is considered a newly-emerge economy with vast capacities for cooperating with other countries.
The capacities and advantages of the two countries will pave the way for broadening of cooperation in different sectors, including trade and energy, and this can eventually accelerate the pace of the two countries’ developments. In an indication of fostering mutual cooperation, Indonesia’s 46-member economic delegation departed Jakarta for Tehran on Feb 25 to kick off talks with Iranian officials in the field of trade, energy, banking and agriculture. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution was heading the delegation. While in Tehran, the Indonesian delegation followed up agreements reached during the visit by President Joko Widodo to Iran last December as well as approvals of the 12th joint economic commission meeting. Meanwhile, continuation of gas imports by Indonesian State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Company (PERTAMINA) from Iran as one of the main subjects for discussion. Considering Indonesia’s neighbors like Malaysia and Australia are among gas exporters, so price of liquid natural gas (LNG) is important for Jakarta and its officials discussed and consulted this issue in Tehran visit.
