VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (VOI News) - New Zealand sees Indonesia as the largest economy in Southeast Asia and its closest neighbor after Australia. The Government and the people of New Zealand recognize the importance of Indonesia in the context of relations with the country, in economy, social, culture and politic. This was conveyed by the Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga, Tantowi Yahya, to Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta in a telephone interview on Friday afternoon (5/6/2020). In the economic field, Ambassador Tantowi Yahya said relations between the two countries had improved. He has targeted Indonesia would become part of the economy of countries in the Pacific in the near future.

"We have a target that Indonesia must become part of the economy of the Pacific countries in the near future. And we have initiated with several programs, over the past 3 years, and the highlight of it was when we organized Pacific Expo last year in Auckland. Indonesia's economic relations are increasing. Later, when Indonesia is truly economically integrated within the Pacific countries, then we can say that what the President wants, as having been delivered by him on several occasions, to increase Indonesia’s profile and actively participate, can be economically realized," said Tantowi Yahya..

Tantowi Yahya added, the positive stance of the people and the government of New Zealand towards Indonesia had helped his role as the Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga in convincing the people and governments in other Pacific countries about about the importance of Indonesia's position in the Pacific. (VOI / ADVENT / AHM)