Russian Companies Interested In Infrastructure Projects In Indonesia - Upper House Speaker

Large Russian companies are interested in participating in infrastructure projects in Indonesia, Russian parliament's upper house speaker Valentina Matviyenko said on Tuesday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd October, 2018) Large Russian companies are interested in participating in infrastructure projects in Indonesia, Russian parliament's upper house speaker Valentina Matviyenko said on Tuesday.

"Rosneft, Rusal, Rosatom are interested in participating in large infrastructure projects in Indonesia. Such projects are being considered. We are confident that their implementation will begin soon," Matviyenko said after the talks with her Indonesian counterpart Oesman Sapta Odang.

The upcoming talks of Oesman in several Russian ministries and departments, as well as in Rosatom, could contribute to this, she noted.

During the meeting, Oesman raised the issue of simplifying the visa regime between the two countries, Matviyenko said.

"The draft intergovernmental agreement has been prepared and is at the final stage [of review]," the upper house speaker stated.

This will create more favorable conditions for citizens when visiting Russia and Indonesia, Matviyenko stressed. She recalled that the 30-day visa-free regime for Russians in Indonesia, which has been in force since 2015, has already had a positive effect on the tourist flow increase.

Over 70,000 tourists from Russia visited Indonesia last year.

"The issue of restoring direct flights with Indonesia is now on the agenda," the lawmaker added, recalling that the flights from Moscow to Bali would resume this month and pledging to further work on this issue.

Another topic raised by colleagues from Indonesia is the possibility of government scholarships for their 160 students studying in Russia, the senator said, promising to consider this issue.

Oesman expressed hope that the visit of Indonesian parliamentarians would become a new chapter in the relations between Russia and Indonesia.

"The economic relations between our countries will be on the rise," he said.

Matviyenko also stressed that relations between Moscow and Jakarta had always been mutually respectful since their establishment in 1950, and always took into account the interests of both parties.

"There have never been difficult periods in our relationship," she said.

Such a history of constructive interstate cooperation creates a good foundation for building a qualitatively new strategic partnership between countries in modern time, she concluded.