REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, CAIRO -- Indonesian Presidential Decree No.104/2015, permitting visa exemptions for citizens of 75 countries, including Egypt, has received a positive welcome from the Egyptian business community, according to the country's former Industry Minister Ibrahim Fawzy.
He noted that the policy became a focus in discussions during the "Business Gathering & Dinner" in Cairo on Friday night.
Addressing the business gathering, Fawzy remarked that Indonesia's exemption of visas for Egyptian citizens is a step forward that should be taken advantage of by entrepreneurs in Egypt.
According to the Indonesian Presidential decree, visitor visa exemptions apply to foreign nationals arriving in the country as tourists, or participating in government business, to study, for business or social and cultural purposes, or just as a stopover while continuing travels to other countries.
"The policy of visa exemptions for 75 countries, including Egypt, is very profitable for Egypt in an effort to expedite business, cultural and tourist programs," he noted.
Fawzy expressed hope that, in the future, Egypt might provide free visas to citizens of Indonesia, in a bid to increase foreign exchange for Egypt through business visits, tourism and investment in the Middle East country.
Earlier in September, the governments of Indonesia and Egypt agreed on visa-free regulations, which were only restricted to holders of diplomatic passports and official passports of both countries.
Visa-free agreements for diplomats and officials was stipulated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Shukri Shameh on the sidelines of the visit of President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi to Jakarta on September 4, 2015.
The business meeting, entitled "Doing Business With Indonesia", was held by the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo to encourage Egyptian businessmen and investors to attend two business events in Indonesia: the "Indonesia-Middle East Update", which will be held in Aceh from October 17 to 19, and "Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2015" in Jakarta from October 21 to 25, 2015.
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