Discloses Amb. Hadi of Indonesia at an interview with The Korea Post
By Publisher Lee Kyung-sik with Kim Hyung-dae, Kim Jung-mi, Sua Kim, Hillary Kang
President Joko Widodo of the Republic of Indonesia is visiting the Republic of Korea next month to meet with President Moon Jae-in and discuss with him and Korean leaders on a wide range of topics to further upgrade the close relations of cooperation between the two countries. This was disclosed by Ambassador Umar Hadi of Indonesia in Seoul at an exclusive interview on Aug. 13, 2018 with The Korea Post media, 33 years old this year and owning and operating 3 English and 2 Korean-language news media outlets.
Ambassador Hadi said, “So, this coming September would be the golden opportunity for both countries to map out the next 45 years of bilateral relations as well as to give substance to the November 2017 ‘Joint Vision Statement for Co-Prosperity and Peace’ signed between Korea and Indonesia by the two Heads of Government during President Moon’s visit to Jarkarta on Nov. 9-10, 2017. (See related stories and photos toward the end of this article.)
Indonesia is a Jawon Buguk (natural resources-rich country) with the world’s fourth largest population with 252.2 million people, has the world’s 15th largest territory with 1.9 square kilometers in land space and the world’s 16th largest GDP with US$917.9 billion.
Indonesia, like Korea achieving the economic boom in the 1960s, is achieving ‘economic miracles’ under President Widodo who has achieved a 47% increase in inviting foreign direct investments in Indonesia from 270 trillion Rupia in 2013 to 397 trillion Rupia.
There are more than 3,000 Korean business companies actively operating in Indonesia and they are expected to increase at a rapid pace thanks to the reasonable labor cost and the size of the population that is comparable to the total number of population of Thailand, Viet Nam and the Philippines put together.
At the interview with The Korea Post, Ambassador Hadi discussed a wide range of topics interesting to Korea and Indonesia, which included progress of bilateral cooperation, Korean companies in Indonesia actively contributing to the promotion of bilateral relations and cooperation, personal data of the President of Indonesia, and the National Day of Indonesia which comes on August 17. Details of the interview follow:
Question: As the Ambassador of Indonesia to Korea, please introduce the progress of bilateral cooperation in the economic, political and other areas so far made during your tenure of office in Korea and your view of the outlook of further development between the two countries.
Answer: The state of Indonesia-Korea bilateral relationship is in its peak. The cooperation is stronger than ever. This coming September 2018 marks 45 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and South Korea. Today, the two countries enjoy a mature relationship, based on shared values of democracy, human rights, and open economy. In November 2017, during the State Visit by the President of the Republic of Korea to Indonesia, the status of relationship was elevated from Strategic Partnership (2006) into a “Special Strategic Partnership.”
South Korean companies are currently being the third largest investors in Indonesia. Indonesia is one of the biggest trading partners of South Korea with the total bilateral trade of 17.98 billion US Dollar in 2017. Our two people are enjoying "heart-to-heart" relationship through art, cultural, and people exchanges. Indonesia and South Korea are also partners in various regional and international forums such ASEAN+3, East Asia Summit (EAS), MIKTA, APEC, FEALAC, G20 and the United Nations.
The two leaders have enjoyed close relationship. Not long after his inauguration, President Moon Jae-in paid a state visit to Indonesia on 8-10 November 2017. On the other hand, the Indonesian President Jokowi already visited South Korea two times in 2014 and 2016. This year, President Jokowi is slated to visit Seoul once more.
There are three main assets in Indonesia-Korea bilateral relations that bring the two countries closer as trusted partners: (a) shared values and principles; (b) mutual trust and solidarity; and (c) concrete cooperation for mutual benefits. The two countries shall continuously nurture and strengthen, as well as benefit from, these assets.
Q: Who are the Korean companies actively contributing to the economic cooperation between the two countries? Please omit the big companies who are already widely known but show us the non-jaebol businesses, and small and medium companies, who account for the majority of the business world in Korea, who need information on their peers in your country so that they could follow their suit in your.
A: Korean companies have contributed significantly to Indonesia's economy since the 1970s. As early as 1973, Miwon has established a factory in Pasuruan, East Java. Other companies include: Kukdong, a Korean textile and garment company, who has been operating in Indonesia since 1988, creating jobs for more than 4000 workers. Parkland has been investing in Indonesia since 2005 in footwear industry and employs 13.000 workers. Sae-A Trading, another textile and garment company, has been in Indonesia since 2007 and has 10,500 workers.
Q: What is the current volume of bilateral trade, and its outlook in the next 12 months?
A: South Korea is the 6th largest export destination for Indonesian products and the 5th biggest importer for Indonesian market. The total bilateral trade between the two countries in 2017 is 17.98 billion US Dollar. Indonesia has enjoyed surplus in its trade with South Korea for the last five years. In the first quarter of 2018, the total trade has reached 9.84 billion US Dollar. The surplus is still on the Indonesian side with 817 million US Dollar.
The November 2017 “Joint Vision Statement for Co-Prosperity and Peace” mandated both countries to expand bilateral trade to 30 billion US Dollar by 2022. Indonesia is projecting to reach total bilateral trade in 2018 of 19.94 billion US Dollar by 11% of increase every year.
Q: What are the areas in your country where you want Korean companies to invest in and what are the areas where you wish your businessmen to invest in Korea?
A: Indonesia encourages Korean companies to invest in areas being the priorities of Indonesia's national development. Indonesia needs investment in people--in order to develop skills and knowledge required in this digital and competitive era. Indonesia still needs investment in infrastructure for connectivity (roads, airports, seaports, railways). Indonesia needs investment in tourism sector. Indonesia invites Korean companies to develop 10 new tourist destinations in Indonesia (the 10 new balls). Digital economy is also one of quite attractive industries in Indonesia that Korean company might be eager to take part.
Indonesia wishes to penetrate the fashion market in South Korea. Indonesia has many young and talented fashion designers with unique clothes products that fit into South Korean market. Indonesia looks to have future collaboration with Korean fashion industries as well as department store.
Q: Please introduce in full National Day of the Republic of Indonesia.
A: Indonesia celebrates its Independence Day on the 17th of August. On 17 August 1945, the founding fathers of Indonesia proclaimed the birth of an independent state: The Republic of Indonesia. This year Indonesia will commemorate its 73rd anniversary of its independence.
The commemoration of Indonesia’s Independence Day is celebrated by the Indonesian people throughout the country and all over the world including in South Korea. The Independence Day is observed by series of events which include flag-raising ceremony and various fun and interesting programs initiated by the Indonesian community. The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul joins the celebration by organizing many activities ranging from sports games to flag-raising ceremony on the 17th of August.
Q: Please introduce the Head of Government of your country in full, including his family and hobbies.
A: H.E. Mr. Joko Widodo (also known as “Jokowi”) is Indonesia's current President since October 2014, through a direct presidential election. He serves as the Head of State as well as the Head of Government.
President Joko Widodo is married and has three children and two grandchildren.
President Joko Widodo graduated from the University of Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, majoring in forestry engineering. He was a successful businessman in furniture industry before entering politics. He served as the Mayor of Solo City and the Governor of the Jakarta before running for presidency in 2014.
President Joko Widodo is very passionate in music especially rock and heavy metal music. He also loves riding motorbike, watching movies, and farming animals like birds, chicken and horses.
President Joko Widodo is popular with his "blusukan style". "Blusukan" refers to his unique style to make impromptu visits and direct engagement with the people, listen to their problems and try to find immediate solutions.
President Joko Widodo also loves to do walking. On 4 August 2018, he launched an initiative called "Indonesia Keep On Walking" to encourage Indonesian people to walk more.
Q: Korean business leaders as well as the FTAs want rest and recuperation? What are the attractive tourist destinations of your country?
A: Indonesia is rich with beautiful tourist destinations. From Aceh to Papua. The “10 new Balis” are strongly recommended for Korean tourists to visit, namely: Mandalika; Mount Bromo; Borobudur; Lake Toba/Samosir Island; Pulau Seribu; Labuan Bajo; Wakatobi; Tanjung Lesung; Tanjung Kelayang; and Morotai Island.
Q: Please add whatever other details that might have left from our questionnaire.
A: There are around 40,000 Indonesian people living in South Korea. 36,000 of them are migrant workers. They work in a number of Korean companies, mostly in manufacturing factories. Some others work at fisheries sector. Indonesia is grateful that the Indonesian workers are given the opportunity to contribute to Korea's economy.
Indonesia also has around 2,500 young Indonesians currently studying in South Korea. They learn and experience Korean culture and language. On the other hand, there are also a quite number of Koreans studying Bahasa Indonesia in HUFS and BUFS - a quite number of Koreans as well graduated from Indonesian art and cultural program. Indonesia believes they are the agents of, and assets for, future and greater partnership between Indonesia and South Korea.
Editor’s note on President Moon’s visit to Indonesia in 2017:
President Moon Jae-in shared his friendship with Indonesian President Joko Widodo while conducting an official state visit to Indonesia. Moon visited a shopping mall in Jarkarta on Nov. 9, 2017 upon the suggestion of his Indonesian counterpart. Earlier in the day, the two leaders held a bilateral Korea-Indonesia summit.
The Bogor Trade Mall shopping center, about 1 km from the Bogor Palace, was their destination. It was a shopping center where many local residents went to get reasonably priced goods and household staples. President Widodo visited there last year.
Their surprise visit was like a long awaited meeting between two old friends, as both their humility and friendship came to light. The two leaders got to the mall in an electric cart that the Indonesian president drove himself.
President Widodo asked President Moon to select a traditional batik shirt. Both leaders tried on some batik shirts while smiling.
After trying the batik shirts, they took off their suit jackets and drank some Indonesian beverages while meeting with local residents.
Meanwhile, first lady Kim Jung-sook visited the Al Ashriyyah Nurul Iman Islamic Boarding School to visit the students' taekwondo club.
After enjoying a taekwondo demonstration, she thanked the students for their performance. She said, “Korea and Indonesia have become one through taekwondo, and that has allowed me to meet all of you here today. You are the future of Indonesia.” Then she said: “I will do my best so that the future of Indonesia and Korea can become closer, thanks to you.”