"Trade and investment realization so far has not been reflecting our real potentials," said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa on Tuesday after a meeting with Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Dadari.
Speaking at a press conference also attended by Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Hatta said at the meeting the Indonesian side had shared with their Syrian delegation the experiences on the management of state-owned enterprises, cash management transfer and the financing of small-scale and micro businesses.
The two countries had also appointed a working group as a cooperation platform for Indonesia to enter Syrian markets, Rajasa said.
Indonesia-Syria trade has been on the decline in the last three years. In 2008 bilateral trade reached 100.2 million US dollars but it decreased to 91.57 million US dollars in 2009 and in 2010 it slid further down to 75.97 million US dollars.
In the investment sector, Syrian investment in Indonesia in the period 1990-2010 was 335,000 US dollars mostly in oil and gas ventures. Indonesia invested in Syria on various business fields including foodstuff industries, clean water management and oil fields exploration.(*)
KR-VFT/HAJM/H-YH
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
