Indonesia and the United Kingdom Bilateral relations UPDATE

On Tuesday, March 6th, 2012, there was quite a historic event for the bilateral relations between the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of United Kingdom.

 

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On that day the Ambassador of Indonesia to the United Kingdom Kingdom Kingdom, TM Hamzah Thayeb, handed his credentials (letter of credential) to Queen Elizabeth II. That makes this event unique from the previous submission of credentials since more than 10 years ago his Ambassador Hamzah Thayeb, i.e. CE Hadi Thayeb M, presented his credentials as Ambassador to Queen Elizabeth II. This event became historic because for the first time father and son in a family representing Indonesia as Ambassador of the Kingdom of United Kingdom Kingdom. Previously, on February 23, 2012, President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono direction in work meetings in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives of INDONESIA abroad emphasized the importance of diplomacy in economics. It was in the context of diplomacy to bring in investment, increase exports, and foreign exchange earnings through tourism spurred the associated economic policy of the Government to continually encourage economic growth and of course accompanied by job creation. Hamzah Thayeb itself already conveyed the matter to Queen Elizabeth II about the need to improve the relations of the two countries on a more concrete level, namely in the field of economics.

Based on the data of the Ministry of trade, Indonesia's exports to the United Kingdom continues to increase. In 2007 exports of Indonesia to the United Kingdom only USD1,45 billion, rising to USD1,72 billion in 2001. While on the 2007 Indonesia only imported USD653,9 million, rose to USD937,9 in 2011. An interesting thing is when we see the tourism sector. It can be seen that the number of tourists visiting Indonesia United Kingdom turns out to be the highest for European tourists.

According to data of the Ministry of Tourism's Creative Economy & from 2006 – 2011 amount is increased from 137.655 to 192.355 tourists. For a relatively popular tourist areas such as Bali, Yogyakarta and Lombok could offer special package tours and unique especially for middle and upper class travellers. As for those with high adventure, attractions in North Sulawesi, West Sumatra, South Sumatra could be a viable alternative.

And crisis Diplomacy Agenda

One of the main challenges in the efforts the Government of Indonesia to bring about economic diplomacy in the United Kingdom is the State of the economy in the country, Queen Elizabeth is being affected by the regional economic crisis in Europe. United Kingdom Government under Prime Minister David Cameron is being slashed government spending in a big way and is certainly one of the prioritized allocation for international aid is reduced.

One of the big news is the reduction of the allocation of funds from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs United Kingdom to BBCWorld radio program Servicedi in 2011 amounting to 16%, including BBC Indonesia. That is, explore working with nongovernmental parties such as business associations, companies became more important for Indonesia's diplomacy United Kingdom agenda. London, as one of the industry's leading financial centre in the world, certainly is looking for an alternative to embedding the portfolio investment in developing countries are still experiencing economic growth among countries in the Asian region.

Thus Indonesia is expected to compete with developing countries which are already known such as China and India to invite investment both in the form of a portfolio (stocks, bonds, mutual funds) as well as in the form of direct investment, for example in the form of the construction of the labor-intensive factory. In addition, in the field of education and culture has also a lot of potential that can be excavated for the benefit of Indonesia in United Kingdom.

On the Symposium of Southeast Asia at the University of Oxford, 10-11 March 2012, by Project Southeast Asia Indonesia turns out to still be interesting research objects with nine of the research results related to Indonesia as well as the three of them conducted by doctoral students from Indonesia. Scholarship scheme outside of those provided by the United Kingdom Government (Chevening) or Indonesia (the other, the Ministry of higher education) is expected to be provided by private companies or education foundation based in the United Kingdom or Indonesia.

For the field of art and culture, as well as citizens United Kingdom Indonesia community who are interested in a culture of Indonesia can also be empowered. As an example of the School of Oriental & Africa Studies (SOAS) in London often hold fewer than artistry, as well as any group of citizens of the United Kingdom and Indonesia incorporated in the Oxford Gamelan Society could be invited to cooperation by the INDONESIAN EMBASSY in London as the embodiment of direct contact with the citizens of the United Kingdom to jointly promote Indonesia.

The relationship of the two countries has been running very well and has lasted a long time. Finally, as a career diplomat with long experience of course we hope that Ambassador Hamzah Thayeb can successfully digging potentialities as well as encourage new cooperation agenda of economic, political, security, education and culture of Indonesia in order to be successful in fighting "in United Kingdom

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