ASSOC PROF KOO IN INDONESIA

Minister of State for Defence Associate Professor (A/P) Koo Tsai Kee is in Indonesia on a three-day visit in conjunction with the 4th Indo Defence 2010 Expo and Forum held in Jakarta. A/P Koo attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition officiated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono this afternoon. He also met with President Yudhoyono during a joint call with other Ministerial-level guests, and will be attending a dinner hosted by Governor of Jakarta Fauzi Bowo for all heads of delegation this evening.

The minister called on Indonesian Minister of Defence Dr Purnomo Yusgiantoro as part of his visit. The two men noted the good bilateral cooperation between Singapore and Indonesia and reaffirmed the close and long-standing ties between the two nations' armed forces. They also agreed to continue working together to enhance cooperation.

This visit underscores the strong ties between the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI), which started in 1974 with Exercise EAGLE. Today, the two armed forces conduct regular bilateral air, land and sea exercises, and engage in other professional exchanges. These exercises and interactions have strengthened the institutional and personal ties between the SAF and TNI.