REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia needs to intensify economic cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) now and in the future, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister AM Fachir said during a reception to mark the 43rd UAE National Day on Tuesday night (2/12).

"The UAE National Day is a good momentum for us to review our present and future economic cooperation with the United Arab Emirates," Fachir remarked.

He noted that the UAE is one of the very potential markets for Indonesian products in the Middle East, after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

"Moreover, economic diplomacy must be one of government priorities to facilitate the stakeholders to be more active in the cooperation with the United Arab Emirates," Fachir stated.

According to him, the government has made a coordination with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) to encourage domestic business players to expand their market in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates.

"I have just held a meeting with Kadin officials to discuss halal food certification the provision at home accepted in other countries," he said.

Indonesia sees the United Arab Emirates as one of the main centers of business in the world. Indonesian exports to the UAE have become the biggest in the Middle East.

Realizing this fact, the Indonesian Government established trade and investment representative office to promote its products in the United Arab Emirates and in the entire Middle East region.