Indonesian embassy in Oman next year

(MENAFN - Times of Oman) Citizens of Indonesia will soon have an embassy of their own in the Sultanate. If everything falls in place, Indonesia will have a full-fledged embassy here by next year.

A nine-member delegation from Indonesia led by Imron Kotan, secretary-general, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met top officials in Oman to discuss the matter.

In the GCC countries, Indonesia doesn't have embassy only in Oman and Bahrain. Oman does have a representative in Indonesia, though not a full-fledged embassy. It may be noted that over 25,000 Indonesian live in Oman.

"By next year we should have an embassy functioning here. We are in talks with the Oman government and are even looking at a site to build the embassy," said Chandra Salim, director, Middle East Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, to Times of Oman.

Chandra Salim is in Oman with a delegation from his country.

Until now the Indonesian embassy in Saudi Arabia was doing the required work for Indonesians in Oman. "Starting an embassy would mean a boost to the already existing excellent ties between the two countries," Salim added.

In 2008, the trade between the two countries touched $170 million.

"This was an increase considering the $100 million registered in 2007," said Salim, adding that trade between the two countries had improved substantially over the years.

Indonesia exports textiles, electronic goods, wood products, furniture, paper, cosmetics, vehicles, food, accessories and agriculture products to Oman.

From Oman, it imports oil, petrochemical products, paper pulp, synthetics, pigments of paint, paint and varnish among other things.

"If we open an embassy we can explore more avenues. Besides, both sides will have easy access to each other," he said.

Salim also informed that tourist arrival from Oman to Indonesia had increased considerably in the last two years.

"This has been possible with Indonesia providing visitor's visa on arrival," he said.

Tourism is an important component of the Indonesian economy as well as a significant source of foreign exchange. With a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, the second longest shoreline in the world, over 700 languages and tropical climate, nature and culture are both major components of Indonesian tourism.

Discussions

According to him, even though trade and tourism between Oman and Indonesia have grown significantly, there is still scope for improvement. "We still don't know each other. I am sure there will be a drastic improvement in understanding between the two at all levels," Salim said. "It would lead to a drastic improvement in understanding the two countries," he added.

Though the bulk of the Indonesians living in Oman are unskilled workers, there are also skilled personnel working, especially in the hospitality sector. "We also have teachers in Sultan Qaboos University," Salim informed.

The director for Middle East affairs also hoped that cultural exchange would see an upswing. "Indonesia has programmes for culture and Indonesian language. We have offered them to many countries," he said.

Earlier, Imron Kotan met Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, secretary-general, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Oman and discussed a host of issues.

The delegation also met Khalil bin Abdullah Al Khonji, Chairman, OCCI, chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The meeting was held at the OCCI in the presence of a number of Omani businessmen. The chairman lauded the cordial relations between Oman and Indonesia, particularly in the economic sector.

In the meeting, they discussed a number of topics of interest to the private sector in both the countries. They also discussed the possibility of forming a council for the Omani-Indonesian businessmen.

Trade delegations comprising representatives of a number of private sector companies would visit each others' countries, it was decided.

Interaction

At the meeting Imron Kotan stressed the Indonesian government's interest in communicating and interacting with key persons in the economic and investment areas in the context of the overall effort to promote this sector.

He also said the opening of embassy of the Republic of Indonesia would enhance trade and economic relations between the two countries.

They also discussed several issues of mutual interest such as infrastructure, roads, transport, sanitation and areas of export that could be improved, including tea, rubber, palm oil, the exchange of experiences in different fields.

By Mrudu Naik

Source: Middle East North Africa Financial Times (MENAFN).
Link: http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093282943&src=MOEN.