SYRIAN ENTREPRENEURS TO EXPLORE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN INDONESIA

Jakarta, June 29 (Antara) - Syrian businessmen have begun exploring business opportunities in Indonesia amid its shattered economy resulting from the embargo and conflict. "The Syrian businessmen are attempting to explore new economic opportunities, including in Indonesia," according to a press statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Syria received here on Monday. Indonesia's Embassy in Damascus on June 7-12, 2015, facilitated three delegates of the Syrian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to participate in an exhibition on textiles and to explore cooperation with Indonesian companies. "Since the conflict or civil war began in 2011, this is the first time that Syrian delegates have visited Indonesia," Economic Coordinator of Indonesia's Embassy in Damascus, Didi Wahyudi, noted. The visit is expected to unearth new sources to meet Syria's agricultural needs, particularly vegetable oils. "Indonesian entrepreneurs have great opportunities in Syria, in terms of agriculture," he said. "Our political relations with Syria are very close, and so, it should be transformed into economic cooperation," Wahyudi stated. During the visit, the Syrian delegates explored cooperation with PT. Smart Tbk (Sinar Mas Group) in the field of vegetable oil refining. "The Syrian delegates also cooperated with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry with regard to the import and export of Polyethylene products," he remarked. Syrian businessmen also explored opportunities to import Indonesian palm oil products. "We use sunflower oil, corn oil, and cottonseed oil," Zeyad Abrou, the owner of a vegetable oil refining plant in the province of Hama, stated. "Although we need to fine-tune the strategies to market Indonesian palm oil products, we see an opportunity," Abrou stated. Responding to the interest shown by Syrian businessmen, Indonesia's Embassy in Damascus will hold a workshop and a seminar on business opportunities in Indonesia.