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Diplomatist: Wishing you a very excellent and pleasant stint as the Ambassador of Indonesia to the Republic of India. Everything being fresh, what are the priorities you have chalked out for durable, substantial and warm relations between the two democracies?
Donnilo Anwar: Thank you. I am happy to be Indonesia’s Ambassador to India at a time when our two countries have improved their friendship. History has made India and Indonesia close to each other. Strong historical, cultural and strategic ties bind our two countries. It is apparent that the full potential of Indo-Indonesia relations remains to be exploited in all aspects, particularly in trade and commerce.
Indonesia and India are close but historical friends. From the treaty of friendship in 1951 to a defence agreement in 2001, the two sides have travelled a long distance. But still, there exist further scope in making our ties robust. Do you agree?
Absolutely. The time span of our shared history is in itself an undeniable fact of strong ties and has acted as a solid base upon which our future relations could actually be built. We have witnessed the ups and downs of our relations for many reasons. Admittedly, a slight slackness in our relationship cropped up after some years of steady cooperation.
It is our expectation that our future together, as much as our past, will make us even closer friends. The visit of the former President Abdurrahman Wahid to India in 2000, followed by the visit of Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee to Indonesia in 2001 and President Megawati Soekarnoputri’s visit to India last year are proof of the current positive trend of the relationship between the two countries. Both sides seem to be swift in taking the opportunity to ensure that the chance for reviving the ties should not slip away.
Both sides have a lot to offer to each other. In the regional context, Indonesia and India play significant roles, which could be mutually beneficial for both countries. Regional dynamism of ASEAN is an area in which India could increase its positive participation and, which in turn, could enhance its direct cooperation with Indonesia. As we have seen recently, bilateral links have ascended quite significantly but both sides should continue striving towards better ties.
Jakarta and New Delhi have many areas in common for greater mutual engagement. What are the efforts in this direction in recent times?
We have, indeed, signed a number of agreements since we assumed relations over five decades ago. But much to our disappointment, when it comes to implementation of these agreements, especially in bilateral economic cooperation, not much seems to have come out yet to our expectation.
Highest level visits that have taken place in the last few years can certainly be seen as dynamic attempts to reach such endeavours. And whatever deals reached during the encounters, leaders of both sides have given earnest efforts to see that the concerned accords were thoroughly enacted. It is, therefore, my main purpose during my tenure as the Indonesian Ambassador to materialise those agreements, apart from increasing people-to-people contact between our nations.
Economic and trade ties are crucial for any bilateral relationship. Don’t you think that the two countries are yet to make any significant strides despite signing a Trade Agreement way back in 1978?
I cannot disagree with you on this. It is high time that the economic and trade ties between the two countries start showing actual progress. As per the statistics, the value of the two-way trade between India and Indonesia, which stood at US$1575.8 million in 2001-02, increased up to US$2212.2 million in 2002-03. This shows a solid 40.39 percent increase in absolute terms during the period. During the period April-July 2003 also, the value of the two-way trade increased up to US$919.9 million from US$658 million recorded in April-July 2002. This also represents an impressive growth of around 39.8 percent during this period.
Nevertheless, there is no denying the fact that despite this seemingly improving trade ties between the two countries in recent years, we still have to go a long way. The current value and the volume of trade between India and Indonesia simply does not reflect the tremendous potential that exists between them.
India is an attractive market for Indonesian goods and commodities, such as: paper and paperboard, wood pulp, synthetic fibers, edible oil (palm oil, etc.), organic and in-organic chemicals, cashew nut (raw), etc. On the other hand, Indonesia is also an attractive market for Indian goods and commodities, such as: feeding stuff for animals, vegetable oils, drug and pharmaceuticals, organic and in-organic compounds, hydrocarbon, ingots, cotton and cotton yarn, ferro-alloys, automotive parts, etc. In 2002-03 Indonesian imports from India accounted US$1384.1 million and in period April-July 2003 US$269.9 million.
There is immense scope for deepening our ties and cooperation in the fields of science and technology, agriculture, ecological conservation, information technology, biotechnology and other areas of common interest. Indonesia has a special interest in the Indian IT industry since it is quite advanced and leading in the global market. We do hope that Indian IT industries would share their experience through establishment of joint ventures and other form of cooperation.
I also believe that both Indonesia and India support liberal and free trade policy and oppose the use of trade defense instruments for protectionism purposes. Basically there is no reason as to why Indonesia-India economic and trade relations could not make significant stride in near future. I personally would be most willing to listen to any realisation of projects that is established by the businessmen of the two countries.
Terrorism and security are prime issues of mutual concern. How is Jakarta willing to coordinate with New Delhi on these critical areas?
Indonesia and India have suffered tragedy as a result of brutality of terrorism attacks. Indonesia extended her deepest sympathy to the Government and people of India, particularly the families of individuals who were killed and wounded in the bomb attack in Mumbai. During the first meeting of the Joint Commission between Indonesia and India held in Yogyakarta on 1-2 September 2003, among other things, the two countries, discussed the real threat of terrorism and jointly condemned all acts of terrorism. The Meeting emphasized the importance of cooperation in the field of anti-terrorism and agreed to enhance the exchange of intelligence and information between the Indonesian and Indian authorities. In this regard I would like to note the visit of the Head of Indonesian National Intelligence Agency to India last August in 2003.
Is there any specific reason why Jakarta, is yet to ratify the Defence Cooperation Agreement signed between the two countries in 2001?
I believe that Indonesia’s Department of Defence has been taking the necessary steps to fulfill internal institutional requirements that are needed to ratify the MoU on Defence Cooperation.
Indo-ASEAN relations are on the move. How will Indonesia, being Chair of ASEAN, use its good office in diversifying and activating India’s further engagement with the 10 nation conglomerate?
As developing countries, India and Indonesia face many challenges. In the first place, we must strive for national development in the midst of inequities and imbalances in international relations. India and Indonesia are expected to work closely together in addressing these challenges at the bilateral as well as interregional and international levels. Therefore, Indonesia, being Chair of ASEAN would like to see substantive growth of the relationship between India and ASEAN.
The upswing in Indo-ASEAN relations will bolster mutual ties between India and Indonesia like a Free Trade Pact in the similar pattern between India and Thailand. Is this a real possibility?
The ASEAN Summit in Bali has seen a marked improvement in India-ASEAN ties. The framework agreement on comprehensive economic cooperation signed between India and ASEAN is bound to pave the way for a free trade agreement between the two sides. It would supposedly cover details of main areas for a free trade agreement, including in goods, services, investment and other areas of economic interest. This would naturally lead to further strengthening of the ties existing between India and Indonesia as well.
With Indonesia looking towards India as a future potential market, I have every reason to be positive that India and Indonesia could also enter into a similar kind of agreement sooner than later. In fact we are working out to see what kind of cooperation could be established based on our potentiality for mutual benefits..
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