Yemeni-Indonesian relations: Business future streamlined [Archives:2003/666/Front Page]

Abdo Moqbil Al-Sabiri
Sana'a, September 7)In a Mideast tour, the Indonesian vice- president, Dr. Hamzah Haz, leading a delegation of high-ranking Indonesian officials, is to begin a 3-day state visit to the Republic of Yemen on September 12.
The visit comes in reply to a visit to Indonesia by Yemeni vice- president Abduh Rabu Hadi in August 2002.
The Indonesian delegation will also include businessmen in various fields.
During his visit in Yemen, Mr Haz is to meet the Yemeni president of the republic and other senior officials to discuss several issues of common interest and ways to reactivate cooperation in various fields in interest of the two countries and peoples.
The Indonesian delegation is also scheduled to visit Aden Free Zone to get acquainted with the zone's great role in Yemen's economic life.
Both Yemeni and Indonesian sides are to hold meetings to discuss and explore ways and means for enhancing business and economic cooperation of the two friendly countries.
The businessmen forum is the second of its kind to be held in Sana'a. The first one was held in December 2002 during a visit by an Indonesian business delegation to Yemen.
Mr. Sumargo Ali Margono, the Indonesian Charge d'Affaires said in a meeting held at the Indonesian Embassy premises Wednesday that a number of memorandums of understanding and agreements would be signed by the two countries.
“An agreement between both countries' news agencies and the General Promotion Export Authority are to be signed during the visit,” Mr. Margono remarked. Both countries have been showing keen interest to promote and enhance bilateral relations and cooperation in different fields. Exchange of trade between the two countries has been progressing by leaps and bounds and many investors have showed willingness to carry out joint projects to mutually serve the two countries.
Officials and businessmen from the two countries in recent years increasingly exchanged visits aimed at enhancing cooperation in various areas. The increase has been attributed to the good quality and competitive prices of Indonesian commodities compared to similar products of Asian countries like China, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and India that are available in Yemen's market.
Different types of commodities and goods have been exported to Yemeni markets such as, power and telecommunications cables, electrical appliances, motorcycles, automotive spare parts, batteries, papers, stationery, textiles, yarns, garments, household equipment, plastic products, wood, furniture, medicines, and other products.
This volume of trade- exchange amounted to USD 75 million in 2002, and to USD 137 million in 2002.
Indonesian exports to Yemen in 2002 amounted to USD 82 million, while the Yemen's exports to Indonesia in the same year amounted to USD 55 million, compared to 2001 where only trade exchange was only USD 1 million worth.
In an effort to explore ways of investment in Yemen, a 50-member Indonesian delegation visited Aden on December 19, 2002 and included 15 government top officials and 45 business officials representing 25 different Indonesian companies. The visit aimed primarily at strengthening and boosting commercial and industrial ties between businessmen from Yemen and Indonesia as well as looking for investment opportunities.
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