Dr. Muhammad Hidayat Nur, Vice-President of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Council, said that talks were underway between Riyadh and Jakarta to find a solution to employment and resolve outstanding matters.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Nur noted that the ongoing discussions between the two sides touched on the export of Indonesian labor to the Saudi market, pointing to the need for more direct discussions in order to reach a solution to the outstanding issues regarding the suspension of employment.
“We are looking forward to new agreements that address differences and enhance the interests of both countries... But we are moving forward to find solutions to these issues, especially domestic workers,” he said.
On the Saudi-Indonesian economic cooperation, Nur underlined the importance of bilateral investments and open trade, and the holding of joint exhibitions, pointing to the presence of Saudi companies in Indonesia and others that export Indonesian products to the Kingdom such as furniture, tires and technological equipment.
The Indonesian parliamentarian also revealed that the Indonesian Minister of Defense Affairs recently discussed in Riyadh, cooperation in the field of military industries and the means to support bilateral cooperation in this field.
Nur stressed that his country has strengthened its economic plan to face the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Touching on the war in Ukraine, he noted that his country’s president recently visited Ukraine and Russia and discussed with the presidents of the two countries ways to enhance security and peace to protect global markets from the increase of energy, oil and food prices.
He also stressed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reassured Indonesia that it was not threatened by an economic or food crisis due to the current international crises.
Nur revealed his country’s plan to strengthen its readiness to confront any natural disasters and new tsunamis, and to avoid major economic or human losses.
On cooperation with Saudi Arabia in other fields, he said: “We are currently working on completing our discussions regarding the aspect of bilateral parliamentary cooperation, empowering women, strengthening parliamentary work on issues of security, peace and justice, as well as discussing issues of common interest between the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.”
