Taiwan toi Increase Trade Cooperation with Indonesia

Jakarta, (Antara) - Taiwan has expressed interest in increasing trade cooperation through Islamic organizations in Indonesia.

Ismail Mae, director of the Press Information Division at the Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Indonesia, who led Taiwan's delegation, made the statement during a meeting with Vice Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly Hidayat Nur Wahid, here, on Thursday evening.

Through Islamic organizations, Mae noted, the trade cooperation between Indonesia and Taiwan can be increased.

"Indonesia is a huge market for Taiwan's trade, and the majority of its population are Muslims," he said.

He stressed that Taiwan wanted to strengthen trade relations with ASEAN member countries, especially Indonesia, and invited institutions and Islamic organizations in Indonesia, such as Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, and the Indonesian Ulema Council, to come to Taiwan.

"Taiwan is ready to provide scholarships and financial aid as well as improve human resources for Muslims in Indonesia," he stated.

He remarked that Taiwan had planned to provide a day off to migrant workers to celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Wahid welcomed the interest from Taiwan.

Although Indonesia and Taiwan have not established diplomatic relations, Taiwan has based an Economic and Trade Office in Indonesia.

Wahid praised Taiwan for receiving Indonesian migrant workers.

The Taiwanese government earlier said it would not set a limit on the number of Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan.

"For now, we will set no limit. We welcome as many as the Indonesian government would like to send us," Deputy Director General of Labor Development of the Taiwanese Labor Ministry Tsai Meng Liang announced.

Liang said the Taiwanese people got along well with Indonesian workers, especially after Taiwan stopped the recruitment of Vietnamese workers for frequent law violations and breaches of working contracts.

Now, however, Taiwan has resumed worker recruitment from Vietnam, he added.

He pointed out that there were 590,000 migrant workers in Taiwan, and Indonesians comprised the highest number, reaching 240,000, including 180,000 working as housemaids.

The Vietnamese are the second largest expat community, totaling 170,000, followed by Filipino workers at 130,000.(*)