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Indonesia is setting its sights on the Middle East as a
prospective market for the products of its small and medium
enterprises, with Saudi Arabia been mooted as the main gateway to the
region.
Acknowledging the region's potential as an important export destination
for SME products, State Minister for Cooperatives and Small and Medium
Enterprises Suryadharma Ali said Tuesday that Indonesia would open
trading houses within the region to promote SME products.
"Maybe we will use Mecca and Medina as the main gateways for SME
product exports to the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia and
Eastern Europe," he said.
Together with State Minister for Administrative Reform Taufik Effendi,
Suryadharma has just returned from Saudi Arabia after attending a
meeting of Indonesian ambassadors stationed in the Middle East, Central
Asia, South Asia and Eastern Europe.
The meeting was hosted by Indonesian ambassador to Saudi Arabia earlier
in the month.
"At the meeting, all the ambassadors and the representatives were
enthusiastic and optimistic about helping to market SME products in the
countries to which they are assigned," Suryadharma said.
In order to realize the plan, Suryadharma promised to establish trading
houses for all SME product exports.
"In the 2007 state budget, around Rp 50 billion has been allocated to
SMEs, which includes funding for the establishment of trading houses
for SME products," he said.
SME products with strong export potential included sarongs, garments,
sandals and bags, he said.
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