Muzani pushes for direct flights between Indonesia and Uzbekistan

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Ahmad Muzani is pushing for the opening of direct flights between Indonesia and Uzbekistan to support the development of religious tourism and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. The proposal was conveyed by Muzani during a meeting with the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tanzila Narbayeva, in Uzbekistan on Monday local time. According to Muzani in a written statement received in Jakarta, direct flights would make it easier for Indonesians wishing to make a pilgrimage to the tomb of Imam Bukhari in Uzbekistan before continuing their Umrah journey to Saudi Arabia. “The potential for religious tourism in Uzbekistan will be in great demand by Indonesian pilgrims who wish to visit the tomb of Imam Bukhari and then proceed with Umrah. So before performing Umrah in Mecca and Medina, pilgrims can transit in Uzbekistan,” Muzani said. He noted that Indonesia and Uzbekistan have great potential to develop the halal industry as both have majority Muslim populations. Muzani assessed that the halal industry is no longer solely related to religious needs but has also grown into a continuously expanding global economic sector. “The world’s Muslim population is growing rapidly and is estimated to reach nearly 30 percent of the total global population by 2030. This represents a very large consumer base that requires certainty of products compliant with Sharia principles,” he stated. Muzani also touched on the long-standing historical relations between Indonesia and Uzbekistan, one of which was through the visit of Indonesia’s first President Soekarno, who had a desire to make a pilgrimage to the tomb of Imam Bukhari. “From there, the bilateral friendship and cooperation between Indonesia and Uzbekistan have continued to be well-maintained until now,” he said. He expressed hope that relations between the two countries would continue to develop, both in the fields of economy, tourism, and inter-parliamentary cooperation.