RI, UEA Agree To Strengthen Business Coop

Jakarta, April 8 (Antara) - The Indonesian government and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to strengthen business cooperation as a follow-up to the MoU signed by representatives of chambers of commerce from both countries in 2006, an official said. "Dubai is a trading point that Indonesia can use to enter the United Arab Emirates. We can have efficient transactions if we send our goods to Dubai since it is located in the middle of the world`s trading lines and provides free warehouse and transportation facilities," Deputy Coordinating Minister for the economy Edy Putra Irawady remarked here on Tuesday. Edy called on Indonesian entrepreneurs, especially those managing small and medium enterprises, to export their goods to the United Arab Emirates through Dubai. Among the Indonesian products that can be marketed in the United Arab Emirates are Muslim fashion items and halal products, Edy stated. The deputy minister added that the Indonesian government provides a business incubator program for small and medium enterprises to access Dubai`s market. Meanwhile, Deputy Permanent Committee Member of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce Achmad Widjaja said the cooperation between Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates was a good opportunity for Indonesian entrepreneurs to enter the global market, specifically the Middle East and Africa.