Indonesian minister meets Ruto ahead of president visit

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investments Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan met with President William Ruto and Trade and Investments  Cabinet Secretaries Moses Kuria ahead of the Indonesian President's visit. 

The meeting which took place at State House in Nairobi led to the signing of a letter of Intent in Serena Hotel. 

Pandjaitan, who led an Indonesian delegation of high-ranking officials, said the visit served as preparation for President Joko Widodo's visit to Kenya in August. 

He said the two countries agreed on matters within the government-to-government and business-to-business frameworks.

"We believe that the many potentials, both in G-to-G and B-to-B, are significant in strengthening relations between our two countries," Pandjaitan said. 

The visit also resulted in some deliverables, including Pertamina's investment plans in the upstream oil and gas industry and the geothermal sector. 

He said there are also plans for cooperation between Bio Farma, a leading vaccine manufacturer in Indonesia, and Kenyan SOE on vaccines. 

"We have also agreed in planning for livestock imports, investment by Indonesian textile companies in Kenya, and plans for cooperation in the oil palm sector," the Indonesian minister said. 

He added that Kenya has a very strategic location thus a vital commodity hub with high economic value to a broader market with more than 300 million people in countries around Kenya. 

"Regarding G-to-G, the governments of Kenya and Indonesia have agreed on a Letter of Intent for cooperation in livestock and animal health," Pandjaitan said. 

The minister also met with Defense CS Aden Duale and Energy and Petroleum CS Davis Chirchir. 

The visit also encouraged the completion of a bilateral defense cooperation document and to start Preferential Trade Agreement negotiations to promote trade relations between the two countries.