SINGAPORE : Ministers from Singapore and Indonesia met in Singapore on Friday for the 6th Joint Steering Committee meeting on economic cooperation in the Riau islands of Batam, Bintan and Karimun.

It was part of a series of regular meetings under a 2006 framework agreement to develop special economic zones (SEZs) in the Indonesian islands, said the Trade and Industry Ministry in a statement.

In the area of capability development, the committee agreed to conduct more training courses for Indonesia's Special Economic Zone officials, following the completion of a second phase of training.

The second phase, which was conducted in November 2007 for two weeks at the Civil Service College, covered Singapore's experience in the areas of customs, taxation, immigration and urban planning.

The committee was also informed that Batam Polytechnic instructors and course managers had been trained by Singapore's Institute of Technical Education on how to conduct a Mechatronics course. The polytechnic began an eight-month part-time course in April 2008.

Singapore and Indonesia recently also completed a joint investment promotional trip to Japan in July to promote the special economic zones to Japanese investors.

Both sides pledged to keep up the momentum in implementing further improvements to make the zones internationally competitive and attractive for investments.

The Indonesian delegation comprised newly-appointed Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Sri Mulyani, who concurrently holds the portfolio of Minister of Finance.

She was accompanied by the Minister of Trade, Chairman of Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board, Governor of Riau Islands province and Secretary General for Ministry of National Education.

The Singapore delegation was represented by the Minister for Trade and Industry, Minister for Finance, Minister for Education, Acting Minister for Manpower, and Chairman of the Economic Development Board. - CNA /ls