Maputo, Mozambique — Indonesia is to open an embassy in Maputo, Mozambique following a preliminary agreement reached by the two countries.

Mozambique's Foreign minister Leonardo Simao, currently visiting Indonesia, confirmed the move.

Addressing members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry last Wednesday, Simao said the agreement was reached at a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Alwi Shihab.

Although Mozambique has an embassy in Jakarta, the closest Indonesia has come in its diplomatic representation in Maputo is an honorary counsel, Americo Fumo, who is a retired Mozambican General.

Simao also held meetings with Indonesian Trade and Industry minister Luhut Panjaitan, about which he affirmed that "we agreed on the need to exchange delegations between our two countries."

The Mozambican minister was also received by President Abdul-Rahman Wahid and his deputy, Megawatti Sukarnuputri, with whom he discussed the "establishment of direct links between businessmen in the two countries."

A representative of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry acknowledged that little cooperation was currently taking place between the two countries, which amounted to barely 10 million US dollars last year.