Moeldoko Meets New Saudi Arabian Ambassador, Discuss Economic Cooperation To Investment

JAKARTA - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko received the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to a new Indonesia, Faisal Abdullah Al-Amudi at the Bina Graha Building, Jakarta, Monday 15 May. In the meeting discussed strengthening cooperation in the economic, social and political fields. Of course, the aspects related to the pilgrimage became the main focus but economic problems, world investment and peace also received careful attention from the two leaders. In 2019, I accompanied President Jokowi to Saudi Arabia accepted by the King and Crown Prince. In that discussion, the two leaders discussed the prospects for relations in all things that could be cooperated. But unfortunately, the follow-up of this meeting was hampered by COVID-19," said Moeldoko in his statement. I strongly agree to focus on following what was previously initiated and the importance of forming a small team that worked to realize and accelerate the idea of such cooperation. Indonesia has a very large population, namely about 270 million and is also a country with the largest Muslim population in the world. If these two countries collaborated this must be extraordinary, continued Moeldoko. Bilateral relations between the two countries have been going on for approximately 70 years and even tightened more closely because of the closeness of President Soekarno to His Majesty Raja Faisal who at that time led the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, during the reign of President Joko Widodo, bilateral relations between the two countries grew stronger after King Salman's visit to Indonesia in 2017 and the two-time visit of President Joko Widodo to Saudi Arabia in 2015 and 2019. King Salman himself became the second Saudi Arabian king to visit Indonesia after King Faisal Abdul Aziz As Saud in 1970. In 2022, the trade balance of RI-Saudi reached US$ 7 billion. However Indonesia still experienced a deficit of about US$ 3.4 billion. Therefore, the Kingdom of Saudi is expected to increase acceptance of Indonesian products whose quality has now been improved according to international standards.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador said that in his first 3 months on duty in Indonesia, he had made efforts to move increased trade and investment from Saudi Arabia to Indonesia. He is also committed to continuing the mission while on duty. Indonesia is the largest economic country in the ASEAN region and even now holds chairmanship. This is a big momentum that will not happen twice. Saudi Arabia is also a big economic country in the central eastern region. Therefore, the cooperation between the two countries will be very strategic," said Faisal Abdullah Al-Amudi.