Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan Optimizing Indonesia's Exports To Arabia CONTINUES To Increase

The Indonesian Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan (left) took a photo with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Syekh Ibrahim Al-Subaie (right) in Saudi Arabia, Saturday, (21/1/2023). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan is optimistic that quality Indonesian export products will continue to increase in the Saudi Arabian market.

This optimism was conveyed by Trade Minister Zulkifli at a dinner meeting with the Saudi-Indonesia Business Council and Saudi Businessman at the residence of shareholders of Albilad Bank, Syech Ibrahim Assubaie, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

"I hope that Indonesian entrepreneurs and Saudi Arabian entrepreneurs can continue to work together to improve business and trade relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. The key is more intense communication, communication and communication," Zulkifli said in a written statement in Jakarta, Sunday, January 22, 2022.

Zulkifli said Indonesia is preparing export businesses to be able to meet Saudi Arabia's market demand by taking into account standards, quality, quantity, capital, sustainability, and skills.

Saudi Arabia is one of the strategic partners for Indonesia. Saudi Arabia occupies the eighth position as a country to export Indonesian processed food products, including canned tuna, instant noodles, chili sauce, soy sauce, as well as biscuits and wafers.

In addition, Indonesia is also preparing itself as a World Halal Product Trading Center in 2024.

"I see that trade from both countries can be improved even better. Various products needed by Saudi Arabia, such as footwear, clothing, pharmaceuticals, construction services, processed foods, paper, plywood, and other daily consumption products can still be increased trading," said Zulkifli.

He said Indonesia is one of the few countries that will continue the economic recovery trend in 2022. In fact, several major trading partner countries in Indonesia, such as China, the United States, and the European Union, actually experienced a weakening economic growth in the second quarter of 2022.

"Since the end of 2021, Indonesia's economic growth has been maintained above 5 percent. In the third quarter of 2022 the economy grew 5.72 percent," explained Zulkifli.

During recovery, exports became one of the main components driving economic growth. The contribution of exports of goods and services has even continued to increase from the second quarter of 2021 to the third quarter of 20.46 percent to 26.23 percent of total gross domestic product (GDP).

"As Minister of Trade, I was given the task by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo to increase non-oil and gas exports, especially to strategic trading partner countries such as Saudi Arabia," he said.

In the January-October 2022 period, Indonesia-Arab Saudi non-oil and gas export performance rose 26.48 percent by 2.43 billion US dollars. This value increased compared to the same period in 2021 which amounted to 1.92 billion US dollars.