Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is stepping up economic cooperation with Mekong Basin countries—Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam—through trade, energy, and technology initiatives, its ambassador to Cambodia said on Thursday.
Ambassador Santo Darmosumarto made the comments at the second Indonesia‑Mekong Basin Connect Forum in Jakarta, which focused on energy security cooperation across the region. He said Indonesia seeks to raise the profile of Mekong countries as partners in broader regional efforts.
He identified Cambodia as having a strategic position within the basin, one that can serve as a platform for deeper cooperation with its Mekong neighbours. He also stressed that Indonesia should broaden economic ties beyond its usual partners—China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore—and increase collaboration with the Southeast Asian Mekong states.
One area of cooperation Indonesia is pushing is micro‑hydropower technology. The ambassador believes Indonesia can both export relevant technologies and participate in larger‑scale joint projects in the Mekong region.
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Darmosumarto expressed hope that Indonesia could establish a regional cooperation mechanism with all Mekong Basin countries—similar to arrangements China has fostered. The Mekong Basin spans some 4,350 kilometers, flowing from China down through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before emptying into the South China Sea.
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Officials at the forum discussed energy security, trade investment, and green technology transfer, including steps to ensure that development is sustainable and balanced among the basin’s nations. By emphasizing Mekong cooperation, Indonesia aims to tap into both natural potential—such as abundant water resources—and regional goodwill to accelerate mutual economic growth.
