VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesia-Russia business forum held in Moscow, Russia on Thursday (1/8) produced 13 memoranda of understanding between business people of both countries. The signing of the memoranda of understanding was witnessed by a number of officials, such as Indonesian Ambassador to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus -Wahid Supriyadi, Governor of Yogyakarta -Sultan Hamengkubuwono X (ten), Governor of Central Java -Ganjar Pranowo and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry of the Russian Federation -Alexey V. Gruzdev. The Indonesia-Russia Business Forum kicked off the holding of the Indonesian Festival in Moscow which lasted until August 4th. On the sidelines of the Indonesia-Russia Business Forum activity, Ambassador Wahid Supriyadi explained the thirteen memoranda of understanding. One of them is related with the purchase of coconut shell charcoal. The cooperation also covers the business sector of herbal medicines, jelly, organic brown sugar, home decor, furniture, construction projects and the construction of starch flour factories. Ambassador Wahid Supriyadi added that the Indonesia-Russia business forum is expected to bring about an impact on stronger cooperation in investment, trade and tourism. According to Ambassador Wahid Supriyadi, in the G20 Group, Russia is ranked 12th, while Indonesia ranks 16th with the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world. However, the value of trade between Indonesia and Russia is still relatively small, reaching US$ 2.6 billion dollars. Meanwhile, Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono who attended the business forum was able to convince the participants about the ease and certainty of investing in Yogyakarta. The certainty of investment is encouraged by the existence of consistent local government regulations so that investors and entrepreneurs can develop their businesses without obstacles. He also emphasized that culture and the arts are the main attraction of the tourism business in Yogyakarta. Creative and technological industries, such as start-ups, are potential sectors to be developed. Today, the economy of Yogyakarta in the second quarter of 2019 grows 7.5 percent and in 2018, it reached 6.2 percent, or exceeding the national economic growth of 5.17 percent. The Indonesia-Russia business forum is an event that bridges businesspeople of both countries. In addition to commemorating 69 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Russia, the forum also emphasized collaboration between the two countries through tourism, trade and investment.