Saudi Arabia, Indonesia look to strengthen trade ties

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia will chair their first ministerial commission meeting in Jakarta later this week to discuss ways to boost bilateral links, and enhance collaboration on regional and global issues, particularly in the domains of economy, peace, and security.

Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir will travel to Indonesia to co-chair the meeting from the Saudi side, reported Arab News.

“Retno Marsudi, Indonesian foreign minister, will attend the meeting on behalf of Indonesia,” said Arrmanatha Nasir, a spokesman for the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, in a statement.

This first ministerial meeting tomorrow will focus on broadening relations in diverse sectors, follows the visit of King Salman to Indonesia in March this year.

Nasir said: “Indonesia will encourage wider market access to export tropical fruit products. This is important to discuss because Saudi Arabia is Indonesia's largest trading partner in the Middle East.”

“In addition, one of the main issues that will be raised is the protection of more than 600,000 Indonesian workers,” he said.