Widodo Opens Trade Forum with Australian Firms
Sydney, 28 Jumadil Awwal 1438/25 February 2017 (MINA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo has welcomed Australian businesses to a trade forum with a joke about working on weekends, AAP reported.
Executives from companies including vitamin firm Blackmores, hotelier Wyndham and mining firm Fortescue attended the gathering in Sydney on Saturday, just hours after the president touched down for his two-day tour.
Mr Widodo thanked the group for attending on a non-working day, adding: “In Indonesia we sometimes work on weekends”.
The forum was also attended by Indonesia’s foreign minister Retno Marsudi and Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman Thomas Lembong.
Mr Widodo said his country was experiencing a period of good investor sentiment, with ratings agencies increasing their outlook on Indonesia.
He also pointed to reports showing growing public trust in the Indonesian government.
Indonesia is keen to develop ties on education, cyber security and mining, among other fields.
It also wants to promote and establish a number of tourism destinations across the country.
Wyndham, which operates several hotel brand across the world, wants to take its 10 hotels in Indonesia up to 100 within four years.(T/RS05/RS01)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
