REPUBLIKA, JAKARTA -- The governments of Indonesia and the Netherlands have reached an agreement on the five islands construction project near the Tanjung Perak Port, Surabaya (East Java), for building the proposed industrial area.
"The estimated cost of the project is slated to be 20 million euros," the First Secretary of Information and Social Culture Affairs at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in The Hague Danang Waskito declared here on Thursday.
He stated that the agreement was reached between PT Pelindo III of the Indonesia Port Corporations and a Dutch construction company, Van Oord.
The agreement was signed during Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's visit during November 19-22, 2013. He was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen and the Minister of Agriculture Sharon Djiksma.
"The economic cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands is quite strong, especially in the field of water management, science and health, food and agriculture, horticulture, and logistics," Danang claimed.
Apart from the construction of five islands in Surabaya, the two countries also agreed on charting out the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development master plan.
"This project aims to address flooding and support sustainable development in Jakarta," Danang remarked, adding that the master plan was chalked out by Indonesian and Dutch experts.
During the prime ministerial visit, the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership was signed between the governments of Indonesia and the Netherlands. In addition, an agreement on Triangular Cooperation was signed by the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed in the field of fisheries and aquaculture by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Netherlands and the Minister of Marine and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia.
"From these visits, we can see a new round of relationship that lays emphasis on a long-term vision that involves Indonesia and the Netherlands jointly moving forward to explore an array of opportunities for cooperation in the fields of economy, politics, and culture," Danang said.