Jakarta – Timor Leste President Taur Matan Ruak is scheduled to meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday afternoon.

"The President and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono will welcome the President of Timor Leste and First Lady Isabel Dacosta at 3:30 p.m. at the State Palace," presidential spokesman for foreign affairs Teuku Faizasyah said as quoted by Antara news agency.

He said that it would be the first state visit for Taur Matan Ruak since he was inaugurated as the Timor Leste President on April 6, 2012. The two leaders will talk about diplomatic ties, especially bilateral trade between Indonesia and Timor Leste, which has increased over the last few years.

The volume of trade between the two countries increased by 27.68 percent between 2008 and 2012, while trading value from 2011 to 2012 rose from US$221.5 million to $258.8 million.

A number of Indonesia's state-owned companies are eyeing opportunities to invest in Timor Leste. They include fuel company Pertamina, regional carrier Merpati Nusantara Airlines, Bank Mandiri, construction company PT Wijaya Karya (WIKA) and construction firm PT Pembangunan Perumahan (PTPP).

Previously, representatives from Timor Leste National Police (PNTL) had a meeting with Belu regency authorities in East Nusa Tenggara to talk about law enforcement along the border of Indonesia and Timor Leste in Belu. (hrl)