VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt encourages Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia, which have great potential to become actors in the sharia economy and the halal industry. So, they can make use of the market opportunities to export food products, processed foods, and other halal industrial products in Egypt. Therefore, the Indonesian Embassy facilitated an exhibition of Indonesian products in a series of business meetings in Luxor City, Egypt on Monday (6/9). The exhibition showcased the specialties of Indonesian woven fabrics, food and beverage products, varieties of Arabica and Robusta coffee, cooking spices, handicrafts, and strategic industrial products. In the exhibition, Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt, Lutfi Rauf was a speaker at the seminar and business meeting “Indonesia-Egypt Update, Pandemic and Economic Recovery; Ways to Move Ahead."

Ambassador Lutfi Rauf in his written statement received by Antara News Agency on Tuesday (7/9) said that Egypt is a strategic trading partner for Indonesia. The trade of both countries continues to grow amid the Covid-19 pandemic. He also stated that the total value of trade between the two countries also increased by US$785 million or an increase of 37.4 percent from January to May 2021 compared to US$571 million in the same period last year. In addition, Ambassador Lutfi also highlighted the close relationship between Indonesia and Egypt that has existed before Indonesian independence, which was marked by the existence of a student dormitory from Indonesia in the Al-Azhar University complex. This closeness continues to be a shared commitment in building relations with Egypt.

During the exhibition, Deputy Governor of Luxor Province, Mohamed Abdel Kader Khairi visited the booth of the Islamic Boarding School's Trade and Business Incubation Association (ASDIN) which exhibited Islamic boarding school products. He appreciated Al-Azhar alumni who developed business cooperation between Indonesia and Egypt. The Luxor local government hopes that the cooperation between the two countries will continue and enhance partnerships in the fields of trade, Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises, and a number of other fields.

Zainur Rofiq as Chairman of ASDIN Islamic boarding school and member of Go Export Indonesia who was also present at the seminar expressed his appreciation to the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, which has provided an opportunity to market ASDIN’s products, which currently reach 1,070 products.