UAE to build $4.5m Khalifa City in Aceh<\/p>\n
Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) -- a small but oil-rich Middle
\nEastern country of three million people -- is planning to build a
\nnew town called \"Khalifa City\" with modern facilities in Aceh
\nprovince, the UAE's ambassador to Indonesia Yousif Rashid
\nAlSharhan said in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We are building Khalifa City at a cost of US$4.5 million. We
\nare planning to build 700 houses with public facilities like a
\nmosque, school, hospital, drainage system and drinking water,\"
\nambassador AlSharhan, who submitted his credentials to then
\nIndonesian president Megawati Soekarnoputri on March 31, 2004,
\ntold The Jakarta Post in a recent interview.<\/p>\n
AlSharhan, who has visited Aceh several times since the Dec.
\n26 tsunami, said the UAE had received permission to buy the land
\nfrom the Indonesian government, thanks to the help of Indonesian
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda. The construction
\nwork will start soon.<\/p>\n
The UAE will not just build Khalifa City in Lampaseh area and
\ngive it to the Acehnese people and leave ...<\/p>\n
\"Even after the completion of the city, the government of the
\nUAE will continuously extend support for Khalifa City,\"
\nAlSharhan, who is married and has five children, said.<\/p>\n
The UAE, a thriving business hub in the Middle East -- the per
\ncapita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of which is on par with that
\nof many rich West European countries -- is one of the very few
\nMuslim countries that donated millions of dollars for survivors
\nof the tsunami -- which killed over 200,000 people (including
\nmissing) and destroyed the livelihoods and homes of thousands of
\nothers in Aceh and Nias, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
\"Our government has pledged $20 million for the reconstruction
\nof Aceh and Nias. Just one day after the tsunami, we sent a 40-
\nmember team consisting of paramedics and volunteers to Aceh from
\nDubai,\" AlSharhan, who is an experienced career-diplomat, said.<\/p>\n
Besides Khalifa City, according to the 52-year-old diplomat
\nwho has a degree in economics from Beirut Arabic University in
\nLebanon, the UAE is also planning to build five orphanages, five
\nhealth clinics and 25 medical care centers with a cost of over $4
\nmillion in Aceh. The UAE Red Crescent Society, and other
\ncharitable organizations, provided thousands of tons of food,
\nmedicine and clothes for the victims.<\/p>\n
AlSharhan said the UAE was always ready to help Indonesia,
\nwhich is the world's most populous Muslim nation.<\/p>\n
\"If needed, we are always ready to extend our help to
\nIndonesia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates maintain very cordial
\nrelations, particularly in political and economic fields. Last
\nyear, the total bilateral trade reached $1.08 billion, a
\nsignificant jump from $872.86 million in 2003.<\/p>\n
The trade has always been in Indonesia's favor as Indonesian
\nexports surpass UAE's exports to this country.<\/p>\n
For example, Indonesian exports were $744.62 million in 2004
\nwhile the UAE's exports to Indonesia were $340.41 million.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is our 11th major supplier,\" AlSharhan said while
\nreferring to Indonesia's main exports of plywood, furniture,
\ntextiles, garments and electronics to the UAE.<\/p>\n
Indonesia alone supplies 35 percent of the wood and plywood
\nneeded by the UAE, the 18th major export destination of
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
The UAE also employs about 45,000 Indonesian workers.<\/p>\n
AlSharhan is optimistic that relations between the UAE and
\nIndonesia will soon grow stronger, given the two countries'
\npotential.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/uae-to-build-45m-khalifa-city-in-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}