RI, UAE sign trade pledge

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) here on Tuesday to improve bilateral trade relations.

Signatories were Andy Pancha, the vice chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Hassan Mohammad Bin Al Shaikh, his counterpart from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Andy hoped the MOU agreement would boost two-way trade with UAE, which could in future serve as a gateway for distribution of Indonesian products to other Arab countries.

He said Indonesian products with good prospects to enter UAE include food, textiles, leather, paper, plastics, metals and rubber.

A UAE trade delegation led by Hassan is visiting Indonesia to explore business opportunities.

Dubai's imports from Indonesia have gradually increased in the past several years. In 1997, they rose to $545.41 million from $343.19 million in 1993.

Dubai's exports to Indonesia in the same period also experienced a moderate rise from US$11.069 million in 1993 to US$44.481 million in 1997. (29)