Minister Of Trade Zulhas Invites Saudi Arabia To Increase Trade Cooperation

Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan invited Saudi Arabia to increase trade cooperation with Indonesia through a meeting between business actors from the two countries.

Zulkifli's request was conveyed during a meeting with Saudi Arabia's Trade Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi in Riyadh, Sunday (22/1) local time. The meeting was part of a series of trade missions to Saudi Arabia led by Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan on 21-23 January 2023.

"We have come with the Indonesian business delegation to further strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia through plans to form cooperation in the trade sector, in order to balance the trade balance and expand opportunities and market access for the main and potential products from the two countries," Zulkifli said in a statement. he wrote, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, January 24.

"We are sure that this trade cooperation plan will further strengthen the bilateral trade relations between the two countries," he continued.

During the meeting, Zulkifli was accompanied by Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Abdul Aziz Ahmad, Director General of International Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Trade Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, and Director General of National Export Development of the Ministry of Trade Didi Sumedi.

The Minister of Trade of Saudi Arabia Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi welcomed efforts to increase bilateral trade relations between the two countries through the establishment of deeper trade cooperation between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, both in a bilateral and regional framework with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The Minister of Trade Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi encouraged this cooperation plan could be immediately discussed at the technical level by the two countries.

Zulkifli said the two countries agreed to further strengthen relations between the business world through a business forum involving large business players from both countries.

He emphasized that business forums between the two countries could involve business actors from Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, especially in the field of processed food products, namely food and beverages, agricultural and fishery products and their processing, products from the textile, automotive, and manufacturing industries.

"We agreed to encourage Indonesian and Saudi Arabian business actors to be able to meet in a business forum to explore business opportunities for cooperation to encourage and accelerate efforts to increase bilateral trade between the two countries," said Zulkifli.

Trade Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi said that meetings between business people of the two countries could be intensified in order to open up market opportunities between the two countries with their various main and potential products.

"Intensive communication between the government and the business world is very important in encouraging increased bilateral trade between the two countries," said Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi.

In the January-November 2022 period, Indonesia's trade with Saudi Arabia was recorded at US$7 billion, up 45.42 percent from the same period the previous year which amounted to US$4.82 billion.

In January-November 2022, Indonesia's exports to Saudi Arabia were recorded at US$1.84 billion, consisting of oil and gas exports of US$200 thousand and the rest were non-oil and gas exports.

"We agreed to encourage Indonesian and Saudi Arabian business actors to be able to meet in a business forum to explore business opportunities for cooperation to encourage and accelerate efforts to increase bilateral trade between the two countries," said Zulkifli.

Trade Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi said that meetings between business people of the two countries could be intensified in order to open up market opportunities between the two countries with their various main and potential products.

"Intensive communication between the government and the business world is very important in encouraging increased bilateral trade between the two countries," said Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi.

In the January-November 2022 period, Indonesia's trade with Saudi Arabia was recorded at US$7 billion, up 45.42 percent from the same period the previous year which amounted to US$4.82 billion.

In January-November 2022, Indonesia's exports to Saudi Arabia were recorded at US$1.84 billion, consisting of oil and gas exports of US$200 thousand and the rest were non-oil and gas exports.