JAKARTA POISED TO BE GATEWAY FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS TO SOUTHEAST ASIA by Fardah

Jakarta, Jan 21, 2018 (Antara) - Jakarta metropolitan city is poised to be a gateway for foreign investors interested in doing business not only to Indonesia but also to Southeast Asian region.    
    The ambitious plan for Indonesia's capital city was revealed by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, while speaking at the First Saudi Arabian Investor Forum (SAIF) for Real Estate, which was held in Jakarta recently and participated in by around 200 Saudi investors, Indonesian businessmen, and regulators.

        "We welcome this meeting and laud that it is held in Jakarta as an entry gate to Indonesia. I informed them that Jakarta is not only for Indonesia but also for Southeast Asia," the governor told the press.

         Baswedan remarked that Jakarta is ready to serve as an entry point for Saudi Arabia's investment in Southeast Asia and to provide facilities to Saudi investors.

         The Jakarta administration will coordinate closely with the Investment Coordinating Board in developing Jakarta as an entry gate for investment in Southeast Asian countries and in providing facilities to potential investors, he remarked.

         Jakarta hopes to be able to create more job opportunities for its citizens by facilitating foreign investors.  
   Habab Alhanaya, chairman of Association of Saudi Arab Investors in Indonesia, stated that Saudi investors should take advantage of the investment potentials in Indonesia.

         "God willing, in the future, we will expand business segmentation not only in real estate but also in tourism and other sectors," he asserted.

Round-up - HISTORIC AND MEMORABLE VISIT OF KING SALMAN AL-SAUD TO INDONESIA by Fardah

Jakarta, March 12 , 2017(Antara)- The just ended visit of King Salman bin Abdulazis al-Saud to Indonesia is historic as this is for the first time a sitting Saudi King has visited Indonesia in 47 years.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
   The visit is also memorable as enthusiastic crowds always lined the routes of the King¿s convoy to welcome and greet the 82-year-old King while visiting Jakarta, Bogor or Bali. 
    The King and his 1,500-member entourage that included 25 princes, 10 ministers, and businessmen, stayed for 12 days in Indonesia that comprised a three-day state visit and an eight-day vacation in Bali, one of the world¿s most famous tourist islands.

          The state visit was productive as eleven memorandums of understanding (MoUs) was signed by high ranking officials of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

            One of the MoUs is the commitment of the Saudi government to invest in a project development worth US$1 billion, called The Saudi Fund Contribution to the Financing of Development Project.  Besides the 11 MoUs, both countries have also agreed to conduct annual Joint Commission meetings.

        After concluding his state visit, the King went to Brunei Darussalam for a half day and then returned to Indonesia for holiday in Bali.

        Initially, the King and entourage planned to stay in Bali from March 4 to 9, but later they decided to extend the vacation on the island until March 12, as they seemed to very much enjoy the white sand beach of the Indian Ocean.  

INDONESIA OPTIMISTIC OF ATTRACTING MORE MIDDLE EASTERN TOURISTS by Fardah

 Jakarta, March 11, 2017 (Antara) - Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya is delighted to have Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud holidaying in Bali, as it serves as a major promotion for the resort island.

        The minister expressed gratitude to the King, as the visit received global attention that has turned out to be a huge though free promotion for Bali.    
   The Ministry of Tourism has recommended several places in Bali that can be visited by the King of Saudi and the royal family.

        As the King and his entourage, comprising several princes, seem to enjoy their stay in Bali, they have decided to extend their vacation until Sunday (March 12), from Thursday (March 9) as earlier scheduled.

         The Saudi embassy in Jakarta had sent a letter informing the stay duration extension to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, confirmed Adjunct Senior Commissioner Hengky Widjaja of the Bali Police, on March 7.

         In the letter, the Saudi embassy informed the ministry that the King and his entourage decided to extend their holiday in the world's most famous resort island of Bali until March 12, 2017, with the duration of their stay now being eight days.

          Despite intensified security efforts, the activities of King al-Saud while vacationing in Bali have been kept firmly under wraps to safeguard their privacy.

          The Saudi King and his 1.5 thousand-member entourage, have booked five luxury hotels located on the beaches lining the Indian Ocean.

BALI STEPS UP SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS FOR VACATION OF SAUDI ROYALS by Fardah

 Jakarta, March 4 , 2017(Antara) - The Indonesian government and people have extended a warm welcome to King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and his family who are on a vacation in Bali on Mar 4-9.

         The holiday is a private affair, but the Indonesian authorities are making all-out efforts to ensure no untoward incident occurs that could pose a risk to the Saudi King and 25 princes as well as other family members vacationing in Bali, one of the world's most famous resort island.

       A joint security team, comprising military and police personnel, will tighten security measures around several tourist attractions expected to be visited by the King and or princes.

         Commander of the Udayana/Regional Military Command IX Major General Kustanto Widiatmoko confirmed in Denpasar on Mar 3 that security measures will be tightened without posing an inconvenience to the entourage.

        The Indonesian military has deployed six vessels, including two warships, to secure the waters of Nusa Dua.

        "We have prepared six vessels of which two are warships, while the others are smaller ships," he revealed.

         He claimed that the Saudi delegation had not informed him regarding which tourist attractions they would like to visit during their stay in Bali.

         The Saudi King, who is accompanied by 25 princes as part of his 1.5 thousand-member entourage, has booked five luxury hotels located on the beaches lining the Indian Ocean.

INDONESIA KEEN TO FOLLOW UP INVESTMENT, ECONOMIC AGREEMENT WITH MIDEAST COUNTRIES by Fardah

Jakarta, Sept 18 , 2015(Antara)- Following a five-day trip by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to three wealthy Arab countries - Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar - the government is keen to enact agreements signed with those nations.  
    Saudi Arabia is Indonesia's largest trading partner in the Middle East, while the UAE is the main destination for Indonesian exports in the Middle East, and Qatar is the largest investor among Middle Eastern countries in Indonesia, including for its portfolio investments.
         The visit from Sept. 11 to 15 was aimed not only at opening greater access for Indonesian commodities in Middle Eastern markets, but also at encouraging investors from the three countries to make direct investments in Indonesia, particularly in infrastructure, maritime and energy sectors.
         Jokowi has assigned Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said to follow up on the agreements in investment, economics and investment cooperation signed between Indonesia and the three Arab nations.