JEDDAH, 28 April 2004 — The establishment of the Shoura Council has been called a strategic step by Indonesian Minister of State for Communication and Information Syamsul Muarif.
The minister, who was recently here for Umrah, told Arab News that the Shoura Council was a platform for hearing the voices and giving vision to the aspirations of the people.
“The council and the reforms in the Kingdom will strengthen the government further,” he said.
Citing the Indonesian example, the minister said it was not easy to carry out reforms but the efforts were worth it and contributed to positive change, progress and development.
“One has to be patient and persevere. The Kingdom has done well under succeeding governments and has achieved rapid and fantastic progress,” he said.
A regular visitor to Saudi Arabia, Muarif said the expansion of the holy mosques, continuous upgrading of services and facilities for Haj and Umrah have enhanced the comfort of the pilgrims. He said Indonesia had been involved in reformation since 1998, and had made slow but steady progress. The effort is to build a multiparty system and autonomy for the provinces with stress on freedom with responsibility.
The Suharto government left the country with debts totaling $131 billion. “Nearly 45 percent of the national income goes in interest and installment payments,” he said, and added: “We are trying to make the best of the situation by exploiting natural resources and inviting foreign investors by offering various incentives.”
He said so far Japan, the United States and some European countries had invested in Indonesia in such sectors as oil, gas, coal, forestry, and agro-industry. “We will be proud if we get investments from Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Arab world,” he said.
He said the Resource Indonesia Exhibition held in Jakarta every year would be a good platform for enhancing the business and trade cooperation and relations between Jakarta and Riyadh. Next month, the consulate general will hold a seminar on investment opportunities in Indonesia in collaboration with the Jeddah and Makkah chambers of commerce and industry. The governors of eight Indonesian provinces and 50 businessmen will attend and meet their Saudi counterparts. Also in May, a large delegation of Indonesian businessmen will exhibit products at Jeddah’s International Trade Fair.
