Aceh's investment potential presented to Middle Eastern investors

Aceh Governor Muzakir "Mualem" Manaf presented and lobbied for various investment opportunities in Aceh to Middle Eastern investors at a meeting in Makkah al-Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia, covering sectors ranging from agriculture to aviation.

"Aceh has a wealth of promising natural resources," said Mualem in a statement received in Banda Aceh City on Oct. 17, 2025.

The meeting, held on Oct. 16, 2025, was initiated by leading Saudi Arabian investment company, Sadeen Al-Bait, and was attended by businesspeople from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Sudan, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.

At the meeting in which he was invited by investors gathered in the Muslim holy city, Mualem presented Aceh's vast potential across various leading sectors. He stated that Aceh has significant natural resource potential, ranging from mining, oil, coal, gold, and iron ore.

"Aceh also has significant potential in the agriculture and plantation sectors, particularly in leading commodities such as cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon, which are highly sought after by the Middle Eastern market," Mualem added.

He also called on investors to collaborate in developing Aceh's manufacturing sector, including the construction of palm oil mills, fish processing plants, wood pellet factories, and biomass industries. Furthermore, Mualem also outlined plans to establish Aceh Airlines as a strategic step to open direct domestic and international aviation connectivity from Aceh.

The Saudi Arabian Ali Al-Zayer & Partner Co. expressed its readiness to invest in Aceh Airlines during the meeting, with the conglomerate company planning to provide eight aircraft of various sizes. Meanwhile, the Sadeen Al-Bait Group confirmed its plan to invest in Aceh's biomass energy sector and Kuwaiti company Al-Barrak Group expressed interest in building a palm oil processing plant and a canned fish factory in the province.