Doha, 17 Nov 2019
First ever Indonesian trade expo inaugurated on Sunday, yesterday at the Hotel Intercontinental Doha City. It was inaugurated by H. E. Air Marshal (Retd) Muhammad Basri Sidehabi, ambassador of Indonesia in presence of Farhan AlSyed, President, Qatar-Indonesia Business Council, Hendra Hartono Turman, President, Indonesia-Qatar Business Council, Sa'ad AlDabagh, member Chamber of Commerce Qatar, diplomats and business community members. The exhibition is organised by Indonesian embassy in Qatar and will be open till 19th of November.
Indonesian envoy in his address on the occasion said that he hopes the exhibition will open opportunity and further collaboration between Qatar and Indonesia especially in the field of trade exchange and investment.
He said that bilateral trade volume between both cointries showed an increase by 154 percent to 877 million US Dollar in 2018 from $346 million US Dollar in 2017, Qatari Exports to Indonesia was recorded around $728 million at the end of 2018 and Indonesian Exports to Qatar shows $148 million.
He said that though it is quite encouraging number but I am convinced that there are ample rooms for improvement to increase our trade volume and also investment for the countries’ mutual benefit as well as economic relations in general, in that sense, Indonesia Expo 2019 is a part of the effort to achieve that goal, Indonesian envoy added.
On the sideline of the exhibition, talking with Qatar Tribune, Farhan AlSyed, President, Qatar-Indonesia Business Council lauded the initiative of Indonesian envoy in organising first solo Indonesian expo in Qatar. He said this event will boost bilateral relations between traders and manufacturers of both the countries as well as will take bilateral relations to greater heights. AlSyed said that the exhibition provides an opportunity to explore possibilities of further cooperation and increase in trade and investment sectors. He said for Qatari traders areas like rubber, cables, halal and frozen food items, oud oil, perfume and garments sector can be attractive in addition to tourism since Qatar is now an upcoming destination for tourists and enjoys as World's sports hub.
He said that there is a plan to establish Indonesian International School in Doha.
Hendra Hartono Turman, President, Indonesia-Qatar Business Council lauded the efforts of Indonesian embassy in Qatar for organising first ever trade expo in Qatar. He hoped that the exhibition will open new avenues to the traders and the manufacturing sector in exploring and building strong relations from services to trade and joint ventures.
Around 40 companies representing food, garments, paper, furniture, cables, perfumery, tourism, manufacturing sectors are participating in three days long exhibotion. Interesting traders and representatives of manufacturing companies may visit between 10 am – 8 pm on 18-19 November 2019.
Various cultural stage performances were presented on the occasion showcasing Indonesian Socio-Cultural heritage. M/s Emi and Lena, members of Angklung Ladies Group told that the group is performing traditional instrument Angklung since 2015. Audience enjoyed and showed interest in ANGKLUNG instrument performance by the Doha based 22 members of ladies group.
A group of artists presented local dances of various Indonesian regions in their colourful traditional dresses and another group of ladies presented traditional and modern dresses in fine quality of textile during a cat-walk show.
American Chamber of Commerce Qatar
Bangladeshi Community
Filipino Community
Indian Community
Nepali Community
Pakistani Community
Sri Lankan Community
