New Delhi, June 11 (KNN) With a view to enhance two sided benefit from trade among small and medium enterprises of India and Indonesia, Indonesian envoy Sidharto R. Suryodipuro emphasized on better connectivity between the two nations.

Stressing on the need to create better connectivity, he said that the small and medium enterprises need time and cost effective convenient way of travel to boost trade.

Further, he added that the enhancement in business between the two nations necessitates direct connectivity and for import and export of perishable goods, availability of direct flights would be convenient.

Amid a significant increase in tourist traffic between the two countries in the last few years, Indonesia is aiming at seven lakh tourists from India in 2018, he added.

Targeting the Indian tourists, Suryodipuro said, “this year we are targeting 7 lakh Indian tourists in Indonesia.

He made the above comments at an event entitled "Pride and glory of Bali-Yatra (voyge to Bali)", to celebrate glorious maritime history of India and ancient trading links in Indonesia's Bali.

"The number of Indian tourists to Indonesia last year was close to half a million people (4.85 lakh)" while the number of people travelling to India from the Southeast Asian country was about 40,000, he added.

Claiming the diplomatic relationship between the two the nations at present to be "the closest in the last 70 years", the envoy said the leaders of both the countries were looking to enhance people to people connectivity through tourism.

With a common vision of both the nations to expand air travel between the two nations, he said that the
tourism is the easiest way to establish people to people connectivity. Especially in India and Indonesia, because of the growth of middle class, more and more people are now open to travelling.

Pointing out the weak connectivity between the nations, envoy pitched for direct flight connectivity to support the rising tourist traffic as no Indian carrier flies to Indonesia presently.

Emphasizing more on regional connectivity, he mentioned that number of carriers in Indonesia flies to India directly but none of the Indian carriers fly to Indonesia. So a new air service agreement is on the cards.

Talking about Indonesia's connectivity with eastern India, the envoy pointed there are only three flights that goes from Kolkata to Bali via Kuala Lumpur, in spite of the geographical proximity.

"The number is very low. We are talking to the government of India to increase the number of flights," he added.