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Jakarta Post

Indonesia, Qatar to set up business council

Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Wed, October 18, 2017

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Indonesia, Qatar to set up business council (From left to right) Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) vice chairman Bobby Ghofur and delegates from Qatar, namely the CEO of economic zone developer and operator Manateq, Fahad Rashid al Kaabi, Ministry of Energy and Industry's director for energy affairs, Sheikh Meshal bin Jabor Al-Thani, Hamad port director Abdulaziz Al Yafei and the executive director of 2022 World Cup competition venues’ supreme committee for delivery and legacy Ghanim Al Kuwari, speak during the Qatar-Indonesia Economic Forum on Wednesday. Business people from Indonesia and Qatar plans to set up a joint business council to help push up trade and investment. (JP/Stefani Ribka)

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ndonesian and Qatari businesspeople are seeking to step up cooperation in the future to tap into the enormous business opportunities available in both countries.

On Wednesday, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and Qatar Chamber signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint business council.

Mohamad Bawazeer, the vice chairman of Kadin’s permanent committee for the Middle East, said the council was expected to help ease business dealings between the two countries.

A lack of information about the two markets had hindered them from jacking up trade and investment thus far, he added.

"Our private sector needed to approach this market more intensively because of its huge potential," Bawazeer told reporters at the Qatar-Indonesia Economic Forum.

Read also: Indonesia may lose 50,000 tourists because of Qatar crisis

The forum was held against the backdrop of the ongoing crisis between Qatar and its neighbors, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, over its alleged support for terrorism.

The Gulf country seeks more business opportunities outside the region, such as sourcing food and basic necessities.  

The event was also followed by a business matching session that aims to connect Indonesian and Qatari firms to discuss potential business partnerships and trading opportunities. 

Indonesia’s exports to Qatar stood at US$188 million last year, much lower than exports from other South East Asian countries like Malaysia and Vietnam, which shipped goods and commodities totaling $353.7 million and $290.1 million respectively, Trademap data shows. (lnd)

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