Indonesia after Further Expansion of Ties with Iran

Indonesian Ambassador to Tehran Octaviano Alimuddin said that his country is interested in enhancing and broadening ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran in political and economic fields.

He pointed to vast commonalities between Iran and Indonesia, adding that his country attaches great importance to its relation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He made the remarks in his meeting with the governor general of Khuzestan province, in the capital city of the Southwestern province- Ahvaz- on Tuesday.

“We are making efforts to expand trade and business relationship with Tehran," he added.

Khuzestan enjoys high potentials for exporting products to neighboring countries, he said, adding that the province can be turned into a region for exporting goods from Arvand Free Trade Zone to neighboring countries like Iraq

In this meeting, the two sides also emphasized on broadening and enhancing security between the two countries.

For his part, Khuzestan Province Governor General Shariati said that Indonesia is home to the highest Muslim population in the world, hailing the good relations between the two sides.

He pointed to the maximum production volume of agricultural products and ports cooperation as the most important capacities of Khuzestan and added that the province is home to important industrial and production units, most importantly petrochemical companies.

Earlier in late November, Iranian Commercial Attaché to Indonesia Anwar Kamari said that Iran’s export of non-oil goods to Indonesia showed a significant rise in the first 7 months of the current Iranian year (started on March 21) as compared with last year's corresponding period.

“The reports released by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s customs showed that Iran's exports to Indonesia during the first seven months of the current Iranian year hit 402 million dollars compared with the $ 280 million in the same period last year, indicating an increase of 43 percent, up 10 percent in terms of weight," Anwar Kamari said.

Ordinary metals, including iron and steel, with $220 million and 74 percent growth are in the forefront of exports to Indonesia compared to last year, he added.

Kamari had announced in October that Iran considerably increased the value of its non-oil exports to Indonesia in the first half of the current Iranian year.

"Iran exported non-oil goods worth $328 million during the said period showing a 42 percent rise as compared with the previous year's corresponding period," he added.

Kamari said the non-oil exports to Indonesia showed 20 percent in the same period.

"Plastic, chemical, petroleum, steel, and food products are among main Iran’s non-oil exports to Indonesia," he added.

Kamari reiterated imports from Indonesia mainly include wood and paper pulp, inorganic chemicals, wood and wood products, food and beverage, and home appliances.