REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The governments of Indonesia and Hungary are exploring cooperation in several areas such as agriculture and water management, among others.

The two countries signed several agreements, which were witnessed by Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban here on Monday.

"The cooperation is focused in the areas of infrastructure, water management, and technology," Kalla noted.

The investment in the water sector in 34 provinces is worth US$50 million, Indonesian Minister for Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimoeldjono remarked.

The two countries agreed to intensify economic cooperation following an increase in their trade cooperation and evaluating the potentials of both nations, which had yet to be tapped maximally.

The Eurostat data revealed that the trade between Indonesia and Hungary for the 2010-2015 period recorded its highest value at 181.091 million Euros in 2011.

The total value of bilateral trade in 2014 stood at 134.51 million Euros, up 7.30 percent from 126.22 million Euros in 2013.

Indonesia's exports to Hungary increased 3.68 percent from 95.05 million Euros in 2013 to 112.40 million Euros in 2014.

In the meantime, the value of its imports from Hungary decreased by 18.53 percent from 31.17 million Euros in 2013 to 22.11 million Euros in 2014.

For the January-May 2015 period, Indonesia recorded a significant increase in its exports to Hungary, from 36.12 million Euros in the January-May 2014 period to 59.04 million Euros in 2015, or up 63.48 percent.

Indonesia's export commodities to Hungary included electronic components, printing machines, and rubber, among others, while its main import commodities comprised telecommunication devices, machinery, and antibiotics, among others.

President Joko Widodo had earlier stated that Indonesia wanted to focus on increasing bilateral cooperation with Hungary in various priority areas, including water and city management, agriculture, solar energy, and food processing.

"Indonesia's bilateral cooperation with Hungary will grow stronger," he stated at a bilateral meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the State Palace.

According to President Widodo, Hungary is committed to strengthening cooperation with Indonesia as during the visit, his entourage comprised over half of Prime Minister Orban's cabinet members and 50 businesspersons.

Among the fields that the two governments had agreed to focus on were water and city management, agriculture, solar energy, and food processing, the head of state noted.

During the meeting with the Hungarian delegation, President Widodo was accompanied by Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi, State Secretary Pratikno, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said, Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister M. Nasir, and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti.

Meanwhile, Premier Orban expressed gratitude to President Widodo for giving him and his entourage a warm welcome and lauded Indonesia on its economic growth, which has surpassed that of European states.

He also lauded Indonesia for its promising prospect as one of the world's leading economies and G-20 member countries, and its ability to cope with the recent terror attack.

After the bilateral meeting, the representatives of the two governments signed two memoranda of understanding on fisheries and breeding, and higher education exchange programs.

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