The U.S. is offering Indonesia an economic cooperation package for its economic development. Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said that the package includes grants to the country to fight against poverty and corruption. The U.S. would also help Indonesia to boost its trade. Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered the package during a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and separately with Coordinating Minister for the Economy Boediono.
Hassan said the grants would be part of the U.S. millennium challenges account program, which was designed to help certain countries meet the Millennium Development Goals. MDGs set guidelines for developed nations in assisting developing and poor countries achieve common prosperity by 2015. The U.S. has also promised to help Indonesia in resolving various bilateral trade and investment disputes under the two countries’ Trade and Investment Facilitation Agreement.