Hamzah leaves for Middle East

JAKARTA: Vice President Hamzah Haz embarked on Tuesday evening on a nine-day overseas trip to five Middle East countries, where he is seeking more cooperation in oil industries between Indonesia and these nations.

Hamzah will visit Sudan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Oman. He is scheduled to attend a series of meetings with his counterparts in each country regarding possible economic cooperation.

The Vice President is also slated to deliver a keynote speech at the Sudan Industrial and Trade Chamber and open the Indonesia Solo Exhibition in Dubai.

Accompanied by his wife Asmaniah, Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agil Husein al-Munawar and State Minister for Small and Medium Enterprises Ali Marwan Hanan, Hamzah will also conduct the minor pilgrimage to Mecca.

He is scheduled to meet with Indonesian citizens for a dialog in each country he visits.

The Vice President is slated to return home on Sept. 17.--JP