Middle East’s Look East Policy: Contextualising Middle East Countries’ Growing Interest Towards the Asian Region

INDEF (Institute for Development of Economics and Finance, Indonesia)

The Political Economy of Trade and Investments: Indonesia and the Middle East:

The relationship between Indonesia and the Middle Eastern countries was not initially seen as a crucial issue, both in the academic sphere and in the public sphere in general. However, the increasingly harmonious cooperation in recent years has made this topic very attractive for further discussion. Moreover, the relationship is increasingly expanding to essential areas. Not only the economic aspect, Indonesia and the Middle Eastern countries are increasingly strengthening cooperation in the political and cultural spheres. As a relatively common topic discussed, until now, there are still very few academic studies that comprehensively examine the cooperative relationship between Indonesia and the Middle Eastern countries. Various historical events that have enlivened the dynamism of relations between Indonesia and the Middle Eastern countries will be discussed in this event. In addition, the event will specifically discuss the relations between Indonesia and the Middle Eastern countries in 3 main sectors, namely: (1) politics and security; (2) economy; and (3) culture. Important developments in the three sectors are then discussed periodically from the beginning of the relationship initiated until recently. It does not stop there, the speakers will also try to predict the future, both from the perspective of potentials and risks. It is hoped that the event can open a new window of knowledge for participants in the context of the dynamics of relations between Indonesia and the Middle Eastern countries.