Indonesia is seeking closer ties with Saudi Arabia with plans for a special reception to welcome King Salman and his entourage to Jakarta for a state visit that is also expected to spur investment. Jakarta expects the visit may bring US$ 25 billion worth of investment from Saudi investors. The meeting is historic for both of the Muslim-majority countries. The last time a Saudi king visited Jakarta was 47 years ago, when Salman’s father, King Abdul Aziz al-Saud, arrived in 1970.
Salman will bring a huge entourage of around 1,500 people including investors, 10 ministers and 25 princes to accompany him during the state visit. Salman and his entourage will spend time in Jakarta from March 1 to 3 before flying to Bali for a holiday until March 9. The king will spend much of his time in Indonesia during his current tour of Asian countries.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo held a limited Cabinet meeting at the State Palace on Tuesday to discuss the special reception for King Salman on March 1, which will see the President welcoming a high-profile guest at the airport for the first time.
Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said Jokowi would also award Indonesia’s highest medal to King Salman when the two held a bilateral meeting at Bogor Palace on the same day. The honor is a symbol of appreciation from Indonesia after Jokowi received the King Abdul Aziz Medal from the king during a state visit to Saudi Arabia in November 2015.
“This is the first time that the President will welcome King Salman at the airport. It is being done because when the President arrived in Saudi Arabia he was welcomed by King Salman at the door of the aircraft. This shows that the relationship between the two countries is very intimate,” Pramono said.
He added that during the state visit, Saudi Arabia would sign an investment agreement worth $ 6 billion between its oil company Aramco and Indonesia’s stateowned energy giant Pertamina for a refinery revitalization project in Cilacap, Central Java. Other energy projects set to be signed are worth $1 billion.
“The President expects Saudi Arabia’s total investment to reach $ 25 billion [to be secured during the state visit] ,” Pramono said. Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman Thomas Lembong said the kingdom would also invest in building lowcost housing in Indonesia. Indonesia and Saudi Arabia will aim to boost five sectors: cultural promotion, a health expert exchange to support the haj and umrah (minor haj) programs, the promotion of moderate Islam through cleric exchange, increased flights between the two countries and cooperation on transborder crime s.
“The President has also informed governors and regional administrations about Saudi Arabia’s interest in investing in tourism across the country,” Lembong said, adding that Indonesia was ready to welcome all investment that Saudi Arabia offered during the state visit.
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister AM Fachir said Indonesia hoped that King Salman’s decision to spend holiday in Bali would boost Indonesian tourism and attract tourists from the Middle East. “During the meeting Indonesia will also discuss efforts to intensify dialogue with Muslim countries. Other topics to be discussed are the protection of Indonesian citizens in Saudi Arabia, be it‘ those who reside there or those who are doing haj and umrah in Saudi Arabia,” Fachir said. Fachir said Indonesia would also use the opportunity to lobby the kingdom to increase its haj quota, which is currently at 211,000. Indonesia is the biggest country of origin of pilgrims to the kingdom.
Jakarta Post, Page-2, Wednesday, Feb, 22, 2017
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