Though Often Overlooked, Ties Between Oman And Indonesia Are Helping Growth In Both Countries

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Source: Wikipedia

Despite the lack of coverage, Indonesia and Oman have become indispensable partners. Their partnership has witnessed a series of quiet, yet important, developments in recent years.

Although the ties between Indonesia and Oman can be traced back to the 13th century when Omani traders began to traveling in the Eastern hemisphere, formal bilateral ties between the two countries began in 1978. Since then, Jakarta and Muscat have witnessed remarkable developments in their cooperation with reciprocal visits conducted by officials of the two countries.

It cannot be denied that trade is at the heart of their growing partnership. It was reported late last year that the total two-way trade between the two countries has reached almost $600 million. Indonesia’s total non-energy exports to Oman amounted to $193.92 million, a 2.36 percent increase from the previous year. These exports include wood, furniture, electrical appliances, paper, textiles, and food. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s imports from Oman increased from $226.18 million in 2012 to $462.34 million in 2013 and consist of mineral fuels, inorganic chemicals, and mining products.

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