The value of Indonesia`s exports to Saudi Arabia was currently smaller than that of its imports from the Middle Eastern country, Dr Rizal Affandi Lukman, deputy for international economic cooperation and financing coordination to the coordinating minister for economic affairs said on the sidelines of a meeting between the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and Saudi businessmen here Monday.
Indonesia`s imports from Saudi Arabia now represented nearly 60 percent of the total trade between the two countries, he said.
"This is because our imports from Saudi Arabia are mostly made up of natural oil while our exports to the country consist of non-oil/non-gas commodities," he said.
Yet, Indonesia`s export of non-oil/non-gas commodities such as rubber, clove and textiles to Saudi Arabia in the past four years jumped 51 percent, he said.
Therefore, he asked Saudi companies to invest in Indonesia because the amount of Saudi investment in the country was relatively small.
"Based on the results of our previous meeting with Saudi companies, they had expressed keen interest in investing in food estate to meet the country`s demand for foods and fruits," he said.
(Uu.S012/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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