WITH his 103-strong entourage, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is on a Middle East tour starting last week. His mission is challenging: persuading oil-rich nationsso far ignoredto invest in Indonesia.

Accompanied by eight ministers, 20 journalists, a number of entrepreneurs, ulema and legislators, the President is visiting five countries from April 25 to May 4. This safari covers Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.