JAKARTA -- Indonesia is accelerating a strategy to utilize its connections with the Muslim world to tap new export markets and boost trade amid downward pressure from U.S.-China trade tensions.
President Joko Widodo embarked on a mission to the Muslim world with a string of visits to countries including Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia over the past year. While the political objective of the visits -- to cement his Muslim credentials amid a bid for re-election -- was obvious, the economic aspect only became apparent later.
