House, Slovak amb. discuss ways to strengthen food, energy cooperation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation (BKSAP) of the House of Representatives (DPR) and Slovak Ambassador to Indonesia Tomas Ferko deliberated on efforts to intensify cooperation between both nations in food and energy security.

"They (Slovakia) are eager to strengthen relations in agriculture, food security, and energy security," Chairman of BKSAP Fadli Zon stated here on Thursday.

Zon explained that agricultural practitioners in Slovakia have collaborated with Andalas University in Padang, West Sumatra, to develop wheat crops that can grow in the tropics.

"There is cooperation between the Slovak Agricultural Research Institute and the Andalas University for developing wheat crop for the tropics," he revealed.

He pointed out that Indonesia had, so far, not been able to grow wheat, as it is a subtropical crop. However, this collaboration has succeeded in developing a tropical wheat germ.

"According to the Slovak ambassador, they have started doing this in Sumatra, and it has produced good results," he stated.

In terms of energy security, Slovakia is developing research and equipment that can support exploration for geothermal energy. Furthermore, Zon highlighted Slovakia's keenness to bring its experts to Indonesia to discuss and explore cooperation between the countries.

"Of course, we are very supportive of this. We also have good bilateral cooperation with the Slovak Parliament," he stated.

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According to the BKSAP chairman, such cooperation facilitates the achievement of food and energy security in Indonesia. Zon drew attention to Indonesia's continued dependence on fossil energy, though it is seeking to use more sustainable energy in future.

"This cooperation can be carried out in the form of government-to-government (G to G) or business-to-business (B-to-B)," he remarked.