President Jokowi Departs For Saudi Arabia, UAE And Qatar Visit

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo, also famously known as Jokowi, has departed for a visit to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, with a focus on boosting economic cooperation between Indonesia and the gulf countries.

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said via a mobile message received here on Friday that the state visit to the Middle East will be focused on expanding opportunities in trade, investment and tourism.

Minister Marsudi noted that the total GDP of the three countries, which has reached 1.7 trillion U.S. dollars, offers many opportunities in trade, investment and tourism that could be explored by Indonesia.

According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry's, spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir, President Jokowi is scheduled to meet with King Salman of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, the Crown Prince of UAE, His Highness Mohamed Bin Zayed AI Nahyan in Abu Dhabi and the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani Syeikh Tamim in Doha.

President Jokowi will also receive courtesy calls from the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Deputy Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, as well as attend business meetings in Jeddah, Abu Dhabi and Doha.

In Abu Dhabi, President Jokowi will also witness the signing ceremony for two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between state-owned weapons manufacturer, PT Pindad and UAE's weapons factory.

The Coordinating Minister of Economy, Darmin Nasution, Trade Minister, Thomas Lembong, Minister of National Development Plans, Sofyan Djalil, State Secretariat Minister, Pratikno, and the Head of the Investment Coordinating Board, Franky Sibarani are also travelling as part of President Jokowi's entourage. (WDY)