By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter
A high-level delegation from Indonesia will be coming to Doha on September 29 for a trade and investment update.
The delegation is expected to address a seminar on September 30 at St Regis Hotel.
Indonesian Ambassador Deddy Saiful Hadi told reporters that the delegation will be giving some updates related to Indonesian economic development based on their portfolios.
Minister of trade, head of Investment Co-ordinating Board, chairman of Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities and the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Indonesia will be among the speakers at the seminar.
Hadi said entrepreneurs from the two countries will have the chance to explore possible business opportunities through a one-on-one meeting.
A mini-tourism exhibition will also be held after the seminar where participants can directly interact and set up business talks with exhibitors.
Members of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) have been invited to join the seminar.
The ambassador believes that the high-level visit will further attract Qatari businessmen to invest in his country and Indonesians to invest in Qatar as well.
Saying that Qatar is planning to invest in the Asia-Pacific region (China, Korea, India, and Asean), he expressed optimism that the seminar “will serve as an awareness” for both parties. He said Qatar Holdings is set to establish an office in Indonesia soon.
He cited Qatar’s huge investment in Indonesia particularly in the banking and telecommunication sectors.
From 20, QNB now has a total of 50 branches in many parts of Indonesia.
“The bilateral relations between Indonesia and Qatar, particularly in the economic sector, has never been better than today,” Hadi said, noting a significant increase of almost 300% in trade - from $600mn in 2011 to $1.68bn in 2012 .
As the largest producer and exporter of liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) in the world, Qatar has a gross domestic product per capita of $106,000 in 2012 – also the highest in the world.
Citing a World Risk Report in 2011, he noted that Qatar remains to be the safest country in the context of disasters, social vulnerability, zero poverty, satisfaction in education, food and stable government.
The Indonesian embassy in Doha is also inviting Qatari entrepreneurs to attend the 28th Indonesian Trade Expo in Jakarta on October 16-20. Hadi said the event will showcase their native products coming from industrial, mining, agricultural and craft sectors.
He stressed that Qataris and other nationalities are granted visa on arrival in Jakarta.
Hadi disclosed that more than 5,400 buyers from 90 countries came to Indonesia in last year’s expo which generated a total trade transactions valued at $1 bn.
Deddy Saiful Hadi
