Indonesia lures Middle East as Trump worries Muslim nations

Jakarta

AS one of Asia's fastest-growing economies and the most populous Muslim nation in the world, Indonesia is billing itself as a natural home for Middle Eastern investment at a time when the US is turning inwards.

With a landmark visit by Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz to South-east Asia winding down this week, Indonesia has won pledges of US$1 billion in development finance and signed agreements to cut trade barriers. That's on top of a US$6 billion oil refinery deal between Saudi Aramco and Indonesia's PT Pertamina signed in December.

As the largest supplier of crude to Indonesia and with muted oil demand in developed markets, Saudi Arabia has plenty of economic reasons to build stronger ties with the South-east Asian nation. With the US hardening its attitud…