REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Middle East region is a potential market for Indonesia, Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro stated here on Tuesday.
"We can look for diverse export markets in the Middle East and invite the region's businesses to invest in Indonesia," he added.
The minister affirmed that the government will invite investors from the Middle East and other Muslim countries to attend the Annual Meeting of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in May 2016 and the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) in August 2016 in Indonesia.
"We will organize the IDB and the WIEF meetings. Representatives from governmental and private sectors will attend the meetings. This is an opportunity for Indonesia to build stronger ties with the Middle East and African countries as Muslim-majority nations," he noted.
The 41st Annual Meeting of the IDB will be held on May 15-19, 2016, for seeking solutions to the problems faced by the member states, such as poverty, low investment, and infrastructure financing.
Meanwhile, on August 2-4, 2016, Indonesia will host the WIEF to showcase the potential of its micro, small and medium enterprises, tourism, art and culture, fashion, and creative industry to the Muslim world.
Chairman of the WIEF Foundation Tun Musa Hitam remarked that the meeting was themed "Growth Decentralization, Empowering the Future Business."
According to Hitam, Indonesia is a developing market with strong economic fundamentals.
Moreover, the chairman said, Indonesia had several micro, small, and medium enterprises with the potential to grow globally.
Indonesia can also become a major player in the Sharia economy that continues to grow rapidly.
Indonesia, with the largest Muslim population in the world, is a strong market in the ASEAN region, and one of the important players in the growth of the global economy, according to Hitam.
Several heads of state and delegates from 100 countries are expected to participate in the WIEF meeting and offer innovative and sustainable solutions for business challenges and opportunities, as well as to form a global business map.