"In terms of economic benefits, the population of Islamic countries comprises two billion people. This is a potential investment source that Indonesia, especially the Gulf countries, needs right now," said Anis Matta during a gathering with Islamic educational institutions in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Tuesday evening
In terms of its role as a market and source of investment, Deputy Foreign Minister Anis stated that the Islamic world is actually a partner that has not been taken seriously so far.
"Indonesia's trade volume with the Muslim world ranks third after China and ASEAN. China's trade volume is around US$135 billion per year, and ASEAN's is around US$82 billion per year (not including Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam)," he said.
Currently, according to him, Indonesia's trade potential with Islamic countries reaches 62 billion US dollars per year.
Given this potential, Deputy Foreign Minister Anis said Indonesia should focus its investment heavily on Islamic countries in Asia and Africa.
He admitted that so far the government had not paid serious attention to Islamic countries because it had previously been too oriented towards countries in America and Europe.
In fact, Anis continued, Indonesia's trade volume with Europe is only around US$35 billion per year, and with the United States only US$38 billion per year. Meanwhile, Indonesia's trade volume with Islamic countries reaches US$62 billion per year.
"Even the trade volume with Singapore is still greater than with Europe," he said.
He said the note made the parties aware that Islamic countries in Asia and Africa were partners who had not been taken seriously so far.
"We are currently developing an investment portfolio at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This marks the beginning of a strong focus on economic integration between Indonesia and the Islamic world," said Deputy Foreign Minister Anis.
