Indonesia seeks deeper trade with Canada but no formal pact or oilsands interest

OTTAWA – Indonesia is eager to boost trade with Canada, but isn’t interested in two of the Harper government’s favourite topics — pursuing free trade or buying Alberta oilsands crude.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa remained upbeat about boosting trade as he arrived in Ottawa for talks today with his counterpart John Baird.

He tells The Canadian Press trade between the two countries soared 60 per cent in the last year, and there’s plenty of room to boost volume and diversify, without a formal trade pact between the two countries.

Many of Indonesia’s Asian neighbours are hungry for Canadian oil and gas to power their economic growth, but Natalegawa says his country has weathered the recession well and is more interested in developing new sources of sustainable energy.

Indonesia, the world’s fourth largest country with its largest Muslim population, has been identified as priority country in Baird’s internal foreign policy review.

The Conservative government has made boosting trade with Asia a major priority, especially after the Obama administration delayed the Keystone XL pipeline project that would have carried oilsands crude to southern U.S. refineries.