RI YET TO MAXIMIZE EXPORTS TO MID-EAST COUNTRIES

Surabaya, E Java, July 10 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has yet to maximize its exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because the country seemed still setting its export policy to the Arabian countries as an alternative, a diplomat said.

"Because the export destination country was only made as an alternative market, so the exports are now still low," Head for International Trade at the Trade and Industry Ministry provincial office, Saiful Jasan, said here Thursday.

Jasan said, the export promotion conducted to the UAE was relatively enough.

"The export promotion was among others carried out through a trade expo in the UAE," he said, adding that the products of the pulp and paper industry are part of East Java's exports to the UAE.

"East Java's pulp and paper exports to the UAE can reach 36 thousand tons per year worth US$40 billion, he said.

According to him, UAE ranked 17th among East Java's export destinations.

"It is proof that East Java's exports to several countries in the Middle East have large potential markets. But several parties believed that the East Java's export promotion to UAE was still low," he said.

In the meantime, Wahid Supriyadi, Indonesian Ambassador to the UAE, said that the people of that country are more familiar with Thailand and Singapore. This is also apparent from the number of tourists to the UAE.

Only a few thousand tourists came to Indonesia. In fact during holidays their number visiting Thailand reached 80,000, which included 51,168 from Singapore and 34,994 from Malaysia," he added.