Indonesian consul general Entjim Herrianto has said that strong brotherly relations between the two countries can be judged by the fact that no less than 15 memorandum of understandings have been signed by the Indonesia and Pakistan for mutual cooperation in various sectors. He was delivering a lecture on Indonesia-Pakistan relations at the Areas Study Center, Far East and South East Asia, Sindh University on Monday. He announced that linkage programmes would be launched with the universities of Pakistan specially the Sindh University in different areas and disciplines.
He said Indonesia was also extending cooperation to other countries in recent days to promote educational and cultural sectors.
He said with regard to bilateral relationship, cordial ties between Indonesia and Pakistan had been developing continuously since diplomatic relations was established in the treaty of friendship in March 1951.
He said the relationship was multidimensional in the nature and character and had grown rapidly over the years in different fields and diverse sectors, adding the excellent political, economic cooperation and mutual support on regional and global issues on the international forums had distinguished 54 years of relationship.
Nevertheless, in fact the relationship between Indonesia and Pakistan dates back to pre-independence era of both the countries, he said, adding the leaders of both the countries supported each other in critical times since the beginning of struggle for independence.
He said Indonesian people would never forget invaluable support extended by the leaders of Pakistan and by its people, especially by those who fought side by side with the Indonesian freedom fighters in the war for Indonesian independence.
Indonesian CG said in recognition of their meritorious service "Independence War Awards" were granted to those Pakistani solders, while the highest civil award "Adipurna" was also conferred on the founding father of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
He said that as a sign of close relationship, leaders of both nations had paid visits to respective countries, and added that President Soekarno visited Pakistan six times between 1950-1963.
He said in March 2000, President Pervez Musharraf visited Indonesia and witnessed the signing of two MoUs, and added that in the same year, President Abdurrahman Wahid paid a visit to Pakistan.
Highlighting close relationship between Pakistan and Indonesia, he said there were more than 15 MoUs/agreements signed ranging from cultural agreement of 1960 to cooperation in combating illicit drug trafficking of 2004.
He said both the countries enjoyed a close and mutually beneficial trade relationship and added that in the last few years, figures had been volatile.
He said in 2002-03, Pakistani import from Indonesia was US 258 million dollars while its export was 73.4 million dollars, adding that in 2003-04 Pakistan imported 355 million dollars worth of goods from Indonesia and exports merely 44,2 million dollars.
Indonesian CG said there was a lot of possibilities of cooperation between the two countries in the industrial sector, technical know-how, banking and marine/air service.
He said there was also a good prospect to enhance trade between Pakistan and Indonesia was keen to promote closer ties with Pakistan, which was also a huge market with more than 140 million people.
He said Indonesia and Pakistan also agreed in principle to promote joint ventures and encourage greater collaboration between private sector of the two countries in all fields especially textiles, leather goods, sportswear, surgical instruments, electronic and automobile industry, food processing, fisheries, agriculture, shipbuilding, infrastructure projects and development of oil and gas.
He said in the political sphere, bilateral relationship was also strong and added that both countries were active in various international forums and had shown mutual support.
For example, he said, Indonesia supported Pakistan at the Asean regional forum and likewise such support was also expressed in other multilateral organisations.
He said he wished to highlight how close relationship between both the governments and peoples, especially at the difficult time Indonesia faced during earthquake and tsunami disaster last December.
He expressed high gratitude to Pakistani government for the help during earthquake, and said at the outset of the calamity the leadership of Pakistan called Indonesia's President to express grief, solidarity and assistance.
He said that at the very moment, Pakistan dispatched sorties of flights and two naval ships carrying tons of relief goods, adding the relief goods and cash donation from Pakistani brothers and sisters were an invaluable contribution for the survivors of the disaster.
Speaking about foreign policy of Indonesia, the consul general said Indonesia's foreign policy like that of any other country was shaped by various factors such as the nations history, geographic conditions, demographic composition and its security and national interest.
He said Indonesia's independent and active foreign policy was not about being "natural" or talking "equidistant" positions on international issues, nor it was a policy "neglecting" or "ignoring" development in the world affairs.
He said for coming medium-term period between 2004-09, the aim of Indonesia's foreign policy was enhancing Indonesia's role in international relations and in creating World peace, revival of Indonesia's image and international confidence toward the country, promoting a better religion and international economic cooperation order.
Highlighting economy of Indonesia, he said Indonesia had been experiencing a remarkable growth rate since the late 60's up to 1996 with annual average growth of seven percent. However, the monitory and economic crisis impaired the country's economic growth drastically down to minus 13.1 percent in 1998.
He said compared to other countries in the Fareast that witnessed a setback in their economy during 1998-99, Indonesia was the most severely affected since problems also occurred in the political security field.
He said addressing the economic crisis, the Indonesian government decided various economic measures by amending and achieving three targets namely to build micro-economy, to further strengthen the financial sector and to improve investment climate.
He said the gross domestic product (GDP) growth that was registering a minus trend had started recovering and now stood at 5.10 percent at the end 2004. Maintaining a high level of growth is important for Indonesia since approximately 2.5 million new workers are entering the country's job market each year, meaning that the economy has to expand by at least six percent just to accommodate that.
Meanwhile, imports also increased from 27,34 billion dollars in 1998 to 31,96 billion dollars in 2002, 32,39 billion dollars in 2003 and 46,18 billion dollars in 2004.
He said to overcome the long-term impact of the economic crisis and develop more stable basis for the economic framework, the Indonesian government had among other launched the revitalisation of industrial and trade development.
He said manufacturing industry and trade played a vital role in the Indonesian's economy with a contribution of approximately 40 percent to the GDP, hence its development became significant, while the agriculture and service contribution to the GDP was approximately 16,5 percent and 40 percent, respectively in 2003.
He said Indonesian manufacturing industries were grouped into four large, medium and small-scale and household/cottage manufacturing industries, and added that grouping was based on the number of workers engaged, regardless of size of capital or the number of machines used for production or capital.
In the trade area, the government puts emphasis on exports of non-oil and gas commodities, furniture, wood, coffee, coca, rubber, textile machinery, electrical goods, steel, automotive, pulp and paper, organic chemical, footwear, marine products, edible oil and plastics.
He expressed thanks to the university for inviting him as well as for delivering of lecture.
SU vice-chancellor Mazhar ul Haq Siddiqui speaking on the occasion expressed thanks to the guest for his visit and for talks on Pakistan-Indonesia relations. He hoped that linkage programmes with the universities of Indonesia would be helpful in higher education and research programmes.
Later, while visiting various department of the university, the council general said the Indonesian government was spending its six percent GDP on higher education.
He further said that there were 100 universities in Indonesia including 50 in public sector.
He appreciated the university's efforts for higher education and research facilities provided for students and scholars. He also presented a shield to the vice-chancellor.