Indonesian province to tap mideast

A trade delegation from the Indonesian North Sumatra province will use the international trade expo, The Asian Tigers 2000, in Dubai, UAE next week to explore business and investment cooperations with businessmen in the Middle East, Indonesian news agency ANTARA reported.

Executive secretary of the province's Chamber of Commerce,

Parluhutan Lubis, said Friday that the delegation will meet with business leaders in a number of Middle Eastern countries.

"The visit of the trade delegation to the expo will not only

seek to increase North Sumatra's exports, but also step up cooperations with business circles in the Middle East," Lubis said.

Dubai has become a popular trade center, frequented by leading entrepreneurs from all over the Middle East.

Many countries in the region have been using Dubai as an entry point for their imports.

Lubis pointed out that North Sumatra will display export-oriented industrial products and agricultural commodities in the Dubai expo.

The exhibits will include textile and textile products,

processed food, natural rubber, crude palm oil derivatives, household utensils, electronic gadgets, furniture and leather works.