COVID-19 Cases Decreasing, Foreign Minister Retno Asks Saudi Arabia To Increase Hajj Quota For Indonesia

JAKARTA - Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi asked the government of Saudi Arabia to increase the quota for Hajj for Indonesia, following the COVID-19 pandemic which began to subside.

"Since the last few years there has been no Hajj due to the pandemic, we hope that this quota can be increased in the coming years," said Retno when delivering an online press statement after meeting Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Alsaud, Tuesday, June 7.

Retno appreciated the Hajj quota for Indonesia of 100.051 pilgrims this year, which is the largest amount that Saudi Arabia has given to foreign pilgrims.

"I wish the Saudi government the best in carrying out the Hajj pilgrimage in 2022," she said.

During the bilateral meeting, Foreign Minister Retno also welcomed the Saudi authorities' decision to lift the travel ban for their citizens who will visit Indonesia.

The lifting of the ban, he said, was in accordance with the actual pandemic situation in Indonesia which was handled well and even received appreciation from many parties, including the United Nations.