Sales of Indonesian products in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, increased by 13.76 percent from 2014 to 2016, an average annual increase of 6.88 percent, despite a declining number of retail shops in the city.

Indonesian retail shops in Jeddah decreased by 2.08 percent during the same period, said Gunawan, the Jeddah chapter head of the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC), in a statement.

“Every year, at least one Indonesian retail shop closes due to increases in rental costs,” he said, adding that the other reasons for closures included the introduction of a local government policy to protect local workers and the return home of Indonesians from the city.

(Read also: Indonesia AirAsia X launches flight to Jeddah)

Furthermore, in addition to the Indonesians living in Jeddah, a city that serves as a gateway for pilgrims traveling to Mecca and Medina, businesspeople have begun to target other Asians living there, he added.

Unlike retail shops, Indonesian restaurant and cargo service businesses have expanded thanks to a significant increase in the number of umrah pilgrims from Indonesia passing through the city.

From 2014 to 2016, the number of Indonesian restaurants increased by 83.33 percent from 12 to 22. (bbn)