Indonesia action plan to boost UAE ties

Indonesia's ambassador Husin Bagis writes about his targets for greater ties between his country and the UAE

Indonesia is continuously improving the investment climate to make it the most attractive destination in the region. Courtesy Lulu Group

I was recently appointed Indonesian ambassador to the UAE with a brief to enhance the relationship between our countries. In general, this relationship is already excellent, but there are some areas of cooperation that could be improved – including trade, tourism and investment.

Last year, total trade between the two countries reached $3.2 billion (Dh11.75bn). This figure shows a decrease of 18.62 per cent compared to the previous year. I am hoping that the total balance of trade between Indonesia and the UAE will reach $5 billion at the end of this year.

Investment between the two countries is also very promising but it could still be improved. My target for total UAE investment in Indonesia is $100 billion across every sector, including oil, gas, and finance during my tenure as ambassador.

Considering its political stability steadfastly established after more than 17 years of vibrant democratic rule, Indonesia is a fascinating investment destination. As an emerging global powerhouse in Asia, Indonesia is continuously improving the investment climate to make it the most attractive destination in the region. With the fourth biggest population in the world, Indonesia is undergoing a major structural shift – a demographic bonus. The percentage of people in the productive age group will peak between 2025 and 2035. As of today, more than 53 per cent of people live in urban areas with a modern lifestyle and increasing purchasing power. Every day, investors from abroad, especially from Japan, China, Singapore and Korea, come to invest in Indonesia.

In the tourism sector, I am determined to increase the number of travellers from the UAE to Indonesia this year. We anticipate that that number will reach 100,000 tourists annually.

Indonesia has many magnificent islands waiting to be explored. Stretched along 19 million km², its area is as wide as the United States from San Francisco to New York. Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, comprising 17,508 islands with beautiful white sandy beaches.

Culturally, Indonesia fascinates with its rich diversity of music, ranging from traditional to modern pop and dance music. The way of life is familiar, because the majority in Indonesia are Muslims, most of whom are Sunni. As our proverb says, Indonesia is a piece of heaven.

To successfully achieve all the targets in the three sectors, I am undertaking a 100-day action plan.

Since I arrived in the UAE, I have had daily meetings with people ranging from government officials to entrepreneurs and businesspeople. In every meeting, I discuss trade, tourism and investment.

I encourage them to attend our annual Trade Expo Indonesia, which will be held in Jakarta on October 16. We are also planning a trade, tourism and investment forum to be held in Abu Dhabi in the winter. Hopefully, the 100-day action plan will effectively enhance cooperation between Indonesia and the UAE in all three sectors.

Husin Bagis is the ambassador of Indonesia to the UAE