Dh4.7 billion value of UAE - Indonesian trade during first 8 months of 2012

Abu Dhabi, Feb 25, 2013 (WAM) - Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, has yesterday met in Sharjah with Mary Alka Banjisto, Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Economy, where both Ministers are taking part in the 2nd Government Communication Forum (GCF 2013), which was launched yesterday in the Emirate. Both parties discussed boosting cooperation and joint interests between the two countries. During the meeting, Sheikha Lubna underlined the importance of strengthening investment channels, establishing joint projects and exploring new potential opportunities in order to present them before investors from both countries, especially those in the tourism, trade and SME mediums. She also briefed the Indonesian officials on the latest and most significant developments witnessed in the UAE economy and the country's successful creation of a diverse and active network of national income-generating economic sectors, calling on Indonesian companies and investment entities to benefit from the facilitations offered to global foreign investments in the UAE. Sheikha Lubna also stressed on the importance of looking into the creating a joint UAE-Indonesian SME network and commended Indonesia's success in establishing its own nationwide SME network, which is in line with the UAE's efforts and vision of boosting the contributions of similarly sized enterprises. She also called on investors from both countries to intensify their exchange of visits and meetings and to participate in expos and conferences related to investment, trade, and SMEs that are held in both countries. For her part, the Indonesian minister commended the UAE's advances in all fields, especially the rapid and monumental progress it achieved in its economy. She affirmed that there is a strong opportunity at hand to further boost bilateral economic relations and intensify commercial exchange between the two countries, adding that many Indonesian companies are interested in establishing branches in the UAE. She also called on UAE investors to invest in Indonesia, which she said enjoys many natural resources and flourishing tourism, services and trade sectors. During the first 8 months of 2012, trade between the two countries reached Dh 4.7 billion - including free zones trade, which was estimated to be around Dh 1.2 billion. - Emirates News Agency, WAM