TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian businesses signed cooperation agreements valued at USD155.7 million with five Saudi Arabia businesses.

The agreement includes a trade contract, cooperation agreement, and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the Federation of Saudi Chambers Office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Monday, January 23, 2023. The signing was witnessed by the Indonesian Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan.

"I welcomed the signing of trade contract, cooperation agreement, and MoU between Indonesian businesses and Saudi Arabia businesses. It is hoped that the cooperation will continue with increasing trade value and more varied commodities," Minister Zulkifli said in a written statement on Monday, January 23, 2023.

Zulkifli said that Indonesian businesses will export a number of commodities to Saudi Arabia, including foods, RBD palm olein, cooking oil, processed fish products, meat, vegetables and its processed derivatives, fruits, cacao, rice, spices, noodles, and charcoal.

Out of the total eight agreements signed, to MoU specifically addressed hajj and umrah.

"Specific MoU for the provisioning of the need of hajj pilgrims intended for processed fish products commodities in various packaging and meat and vegetables in various packaging," Zulkifli explained.

Minister Zukifli underlined that Indonesian trade representatives stationed abroad will always be ready to assist businesses in increasing exports, including promoting products and expanding markets.

Director General of National Export Development of the Ministry of Trade Didi Sumedi, said that the ministry will continue to attempt to increase export to strategic trade partners and non-traditional trading partners.

"Indonesia's export opportunities to Saudi Arabia are wide open. Therefore, we called on businesses to take on the opportunity to increase Indonesia's export to Saudi Arabia," Didi said.

Indonesian Trade Attaché in Riyadh Gunawan, also stated that this moment is expected to present opportunities for Indonesia to become more known in Saudi Arabia.

"We will continue to encourage more cooperation with Saudi Arabia businesses to increase non-oil and gas exports," Gunawan said.

A similar statement was also conveyed by the Chief of ITPC in Jeddah Muhammad Rivai Abbas. According to Abbas, the trade potential between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia can be utilized more optimally.

"Through the signing of these agreements, it is hoped that trade relations and economic relations between both countries will improve," Abbas said.

During the January-November 2022 period, the total trade value between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia had reached USD7 billion, or 45.42 percent higher compared to the same period last year, which only recorded USD4.8 billion. Meanwhile, the total trade value between both countries in 2021 reached USD5.5 billion.

ANTARA

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