The Indonesia-New Zealand Friendship Council initiated a forum titled "Sustaining the Spirit of Collaboration" in Jakarta, Thursday, as a grassroots diplomacy effort.
"This forum is devoted to the millennial generation, as a second-track diplomacy, which is not at the inter-governmental level. At this forum, citizens of Indonesia and New Zealand can discuss and conduct diplomacy. This is what we want to improve," Chairman of the Indonesia-New Zealand Friendship Council Indradi Soemardjan emphasized.
During the forum supported by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the New Zealand Embassy, several relevant topics on cooperation were discussed between the two countries, such as sustainable agriculture, cultural arts, and technology and innovation.
Indi organized the forum as a venue for sharing and collaboration, especially between businesspersons and members of civil society.
Most speakers at the "Sustaining the Spirit of Collaboration" forum are Indonesian citizens, who have studied in New Zealand or have collaborated in certain fields with New Zealand`s institutions.
Indi believes there is much to be learnt from New Zealand, such as the country`s ability to manage agriculture and sustainable food.
"New Zealand has only some four million people but can produce food for 40 million people. Their expertise will be very beneficial for Indonesia, with even more residents," he stated.
With over six decades of diplomatic relations, Indonesia and New Zealand have achieved varied progress in bilateral cooperation.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs` Director General of Asia-Pacific and Africa Desra Percaya remarked that the two countries` bilateral trade had increased to two billion New Zealand dollars, or around Rp19.25 trillion in 2018, from 1.76 billion New Zealand dollars, or Rp17.6 trillion in 2017.
"The number of tourists and frequency of commercial flights between Auckland and Denpasar also increased," Percaya noted.
In addition, cooperation between Indonesian universities and New Zealand`s educational institutions and research centers is increasing, including in the areas of agriculture and disaster management.
According to Percaya, this achievement is not only supported by partnerships between the two countries but also sound cooperation between businesspersons and civil society.
"The Indonesia-New Zealand community is a reflection of our relationship as friends for good," Percaya stated. (ant)
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February
Indonesia-New Zealand Friendship Council Initiates Diplomacy from Grassroots Level
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February
President Joko Widodo appointed 5 Ambassadors Indonesia to foreign countries in the Presidential Palace, Wednesday (13/2) afternoon.
The five new Indonesian ambassadors for the appointed countries are:
RI's extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, domiciled in Port Moresby, Mr. Andriana Supandi, M.A;
Indonesia's extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to the Republic of Serbia concurrently Montenegro, based in Beogard, Mr. Mochammad Chandra Widya Yudha, M.A;
The Republic of Indonesia's extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco is also the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, domiciled in Rabat, Mr. H. Hasrul Azwar, M.M;
RI's extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), domiciled in Pyongyang, Mr. Berlian Napitupulu; and
Indonesia's extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to the Czech Republic, domiciled in Prague, Ms. Kenssy Dwi Ekaningsih. (setkab)
February
President Received Credentials From 11 Ambassadors
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President Jokowi Receives Confidence Letter from 11 Ambassadors of Friends
President Joko Widodo received credentials from 11 extraordinary and plenipotentiel ambassadors (LBBP) from the countries residing both outside of Indonesia (non-resident) on Wednesday, February 13, 2019. The submission of the credentials was held in at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.
8 of them are resident in Jakarta, while 3 others are non resident. The submission of the credentials marked the start of official assignments from the ambassadors in Indonesia. The eleven friendly ambassadors received by President Joko Widodo are:
1. Gustavo Ayares Ossandon, Ambassador of the Republic of Chile to the Republic of Indonesia;
2. Riadh Dridi, Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to the Republic of Indonesia;
3. Jaroslav Chlebo, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the Republic of Indonesia;
4. Abas Benz Kono, Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to the Republic of Indonesia;
5. Carlos Antonio Moreno, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau to the Republic of Indonesia;
6. Juan Camilo Valencia González, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia to the Republic of Indonesia;
7. Esam A. Abid Althagagi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Indonesia;
8. Ramadés Jesús Gómes Azuaje, Ambassador of the Venezuelan Bolivarian Republic of the Republic of Indonesia;
9. Jurij Rifelj, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, domiciled in Canberra, Australia;
10. Felix Ngoma, Ambassador of the Republic of the Congo, is based in Tokyo, Japan;
11. Gediminas Varvuolis, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania, domiciled in Tokyo, Japan.
Submission of credentials from ambassadors of friendly countries began with a ceremonial welcoming ceremony on the front page of the Merdeka Palace. One by one the national anthem of the friendly country is played alternately.
Furthermore, the ambassadors headed to the Palace waiting room to fill the guest book before heading to the credentials room and submitting a credential to President Joko Widodo. The program continued with the veranda talk between President Jokowi and the ambassadors. Veranda talk, which was conducted in conjunction with the ambassadors of friendly countries, signaled the commitment of the Indonesian government to establish friendship between the two countries.
In the submission of credentials from the ambassador of a friendly country this time, President Joko Widodo was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of State Pratikno, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung. (rel)
February
Indonesia - Iran Optimistic Their Trade Values Reach 2 Billion US$
Written by Ani Hasanah Published in Indonesia Today
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Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Indonesia Valiollah Mohammadi on Tuesday (Feb 12) in Jakarta said that he is optimistic the trade value batween Indonesia and Iran can reach 2 billion US$ in 2020. To Voice of Indonesia, the Ambassador said that both countries have a big potential to increase the economic cooperation especially in trade and investment sectors. The potential of cooperation between Iran and Indonesia is spread in various regions and provinces in Indonesia. He admitted that he has visited several places in Indonesia to see the opportunity of ties improvement between the two countries. He even believed that the value of cooperation can be increased to 20 billion US$ in the next few years. Energy is one of promising sectors to elevate trade and investment cooperation between Indonesia and Iran.
“I’m sure if we can go the same direction we can reach to 2 billion in 2020. I believe that we can reach to the 20 billion USD not for tomorrow or next year, during 5 or 6 years, we can reach to that because there is potential for cooperation. Of course several section we can work together but I think energy is number 1. When we are talking about energy we are tallking about electricity, gas, petrochemical, oil, defineries, power plant station and Iran have a lot of achievement in these fields,” said Valiollah Mohammadi.
Indonesian and Iranian trade volumes in 2018 reached 1 billion US$ or about 13 trillion Rupiah. Some leading commodities that have been exported to Iran are coffee, palm oil, rubber, textile, shoes and electronics. Good relation between Indonesia and Iran that has been created for years according to Ambassador Valiollah Mohammadi is part of the success of Iran Revolution in 1979. (VOI/Ndy/trs.NK)