Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The United States` President Barack Obama`s visit to Indonesia is a chance for both countries to increase their economic ties, a chamber official said.
"The visit can be an encouragement. We can utilize the visit to convince business players there that Indonesia is an interesting investment destination," Suryo Bambang Sulistyo, chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), said here on Tuesday.
Besides, he said, businesspeople at home should also be proactive in expanding their market shares in the United States.
The United States is a main export destination for Indonesia. The value of Indonesia`s trade with the United States inclined to increase since 2005 until 2008 before it dropped in 2009.
In 2008, Indonesia-United States two way trade totaled US$20.9 billion which in 2009 dropped to US$17.9 billion.
The total of trade volumes of both nations in the January August 2010 period stood at US$15.6 billion, which were higher than that in the same period in 2009 which stood at US$11.3 billion.
Indonesia has always enjoyed a surplus in its trade with the United States since 2005. The surplus of trade between Indonesia and the United States in 2009 was recorded at US$3.7 billion and in the January - August 2010 period it stood at US$2.8 billion.
Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama arrived at Jakarta Halim Perdana Kusuma airport on Tuesday afternoon and arrived at the State Palace at 5 pm.
During his stay in Indonesia, Obama will meet President Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono, witness the signing of an Indonesia-US comprehensive partnership agreement, visit Istiqlal Mosque and give a public lecture at the University of Indonesai (UI). (*)
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