REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Bilateral relation between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia is more than just about the deployment of Indonesian workers to Saudi Arabia, newly appointed Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia AM Fachir stated here on Monday.
"In the trade sector, Saudi Arabia benefits from Indonesia, with about US$4 billion, thanks to its oil export. In the tourism sector, about 15 percent of Saudi's revenue from Hajj activities come from Indonesian Hajj," Fachir added.
The ambassador called on Indonesia and Saudi Arabia to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries for the benefit of the two sides.
In the trade sector, Indonesia exports motorcycle, spare parts, tires, textiles and palm oil to Saudi Arabia, while Saudi Arabia exports oil, petrochemical products and plastic to Indonesia.
Meanwhile there are 1.3 million Indonesian workers working in Saudi Arabia currently. The number excludes the number of illegal immigrants in Saudi Arabia without proper documents.