VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Three Saudi companies that have been loyal to Indonesian business partners have won Primaduta Award from the Indonesian Ministry of Trade.

The three companies are Abdul Latif Jameel Co., Jarir Bookstore and Said Bawazir Trading Corp. (SBTC).

"Primaduta is the highest award from the Indonesian Government to foreign companies for being loyal in buying and developing imported products from Indonesia," Director General of National Export Development at the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, Arlinda, stated in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

The award was handed over on the last day of the 2018 Made in Indonesia Expo held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 28 to December 1.

According to her, these foreign companies have contributed to increasing Indonesia`s trading volume.

Arlinda said the award is a form of good trust and commitment between Saudi Arabian businessmen and their Indonesian partners.

Indonesia is one of the best countries and the right place to establish business cooperation in the world, she added.

"We have a pleasant business climate. I am sure these three importers enjoy their romantic and nice business with Indonesian partners," Arlinda said.

Indonesia`s business commitment is expected to spread throughout Saudi Arabia, so that cooperation between the two countries will increase.

"I hope their trust and commitment with Indonesian business people can spread throughout Saudi Arabia, which in turn will increase trade cooperation between the two countries," she said.

Arlinda is optimistic that there will be many more Saudi Arabian businessmen receiving Primaduta Award in the future, along with the enhancing trade partnerships between the two countries.

The 2018 Made in Indonesia Expo was held for the first time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to introduce Indonesian products in the country and the Middle East.

Earlier, Chairman of the Indonesia Expo 2018 Sukur Sakka pointed out that the exhibition was aimed at promoting Indonesia in Saudi Arabia, in particular, and the Middle East, in general.

The exhibition was held at the Jeddah Center for Forums & Events and featured 75 booths showcasing Indonesian products and services from various companies.

Seventy percent of the products on display are food items, including coffee, ready-to-eat food products, and chocolate. It is considered that Indonesian food has vast opportunities in the Saudi Arabian market.

Meanwhile, at the opening of the exhibition on November 28, Indonesia Consul General Jeddah Mohamad Hery Saripudin stated that since decades Indonesia has not held a single exhibition in order to introduce the potential of Indonesian trade, tourism, investment and professional labor to the public of Saudi Arabia.

In fact, Saudi Arabia is a captive market for Indonesian products because Indonesia is the largest sending country of pilgrims in the world with more than 221 thousand pilgrims and more than 1.2 million umroh (minor hajj) pilgrims per year.

Thus, Indonesian products related to catering, accommodation and transportation needs are urgently required.

This can be seen from the achievement of the performance of Indonesia`s non-oil and gas exports to Saudi Arabia at the end of 2017 reaching US$1.38 billion, up 3 percent compared to that in the same period in 2016 which was US$1.33 billion. (ANTARA)