Indonesia bids to draw Emirati firms

abu dhabi — Indonesian companies tried to hard sell their country as a dream investment destination during the UAE-Indonesia Business Forum held in the capital on Wednesday.

The event saw officials from the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, local and Indonesian firms in attendance.

Indonesian Ambassador to the UAE Husin Bagis urged local companies to invest before the Chinese and Japanese benefit from the partnership. He said the UAE needed to raise its total investment in Indonesia.

“Last year, the total investment from the UAE to Indonesia was $1.5 billion. It is very small and far from what it should be. Considering the close ties between the two countries, the investment from the emirate has to improve.”

Bagis urged Emirati firms to make use of resources on offer in Indonesia. “Every day, so many Japanese, Chinese and South Korean companies come to Indonesia to take the cake. While Gulf countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain see Indonesia as small. The Gulf countries prefer Western Europe and the US. If you are not coming to Indonesia right now, then Chinese and Japanese will take the cake.”

The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry directorgeneral Mohamed Helal Al Muhairi said the forum will further strengthen economic relations and technical cooperation. “Indonesia is a key strategic player in our economic development. We have closer ties in education, healthcare, tourism and many others.”

— ashwani@khaleejtimes.com