VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (VOI News) - The Indonesian Ambassador in Caracas, Venezuela, Mochammad Luthfie Witto'eng, said that business or trade opportunities in Venezuela are still very open and can be exploited by Indonesian entrepreneurs. In a special interview with Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta, recently (Monday, 7/20), Mochammad Luthfie said that this business opportunity had not been touched by Indonesian entrepreneurs, probably because of the long distance between Indonesia and Venezuela, causing high costs.

Mochamad Luthfie added that although the Venezuelan population is relatively small and the country is in an economic crisis, they need basic needs such as food and drinks and medicines as well as medical equipment. He invited Indonesian businessmen to try to enter the Venezuelan market because the Indonesian Embassy in Caracas had started cooperation with the Venezuelan government and businessmen.

"We hope Indonesian entrepreneurs try to enter Venezuela. We have started, meaning that the Indonesian Embassy has initiated collaborations or established relationships with business people, whether from the private sector or the government itself," said Mochamad Luthfie.

In addition to basic needs and medical equipment, Indonesian Ambassador to Venezuela Mochammad Luthfie Witto'eng said that trade opportunities that could be implemented in the long term by Indonesian entrepreneurs are the oil and natural gas and mineral industries.

"The rather long-term industry, the oil and gas industry, minerals, is very possible, and that opportunities have actually been indirectly offered to us for cooperation. For example oil. For oil, because of many sanctions from America and so on, they are rather difficult. In fact, if we look at the oil reserves, someone has written that they still can last up to 300 years, but the country is having difficulties in managing its oil now because of the economic sanctions imposed by America. So it hopes for cooperation with other countries, including Indonesia. And that has been conveyed to us," said Mochamad Luthfie.

The Indonesian Ambassador to Venezuela Mochammad Luthfie Witto'eng said that his party was willing to provide information and connect Indonesian businessmen with Venezuelan businessmen and government. (VOI / ADVENT / AHM)