Czech Republic to boost economic ties with RI<\/p>\n
Veeramalla Anjaiah
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Czech Republic, a small Central European state, wants to give
\nimprove upon its existing economic relations with Indonesia,
\nCzech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda said in Jakarta on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"Our relations with Indonesia are excellent. We don't have any
\nproblematic aspects in our bilateral ties. We want to give a new
\nimpetus to boost our economic ties because they do not reflect
\nboth countries' potential,\" Minister Svoboda told The Jakarta
\nPost on Thursday in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of
\nthe 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-European
\nUnion (EU) Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Indonesia exported roughly some US$120 million worth of goods
\nto the Czech Republic and its imports reached around $20 million
\nin 2004. Though the bilateral trade has been increasing from year
\nto year, there is great potential for the countries in economic
\nterms. For example, the total value of the bilateral trade in
\n1993 was just $30 million but jumped to $135 million in 2003.<\/p>\n
Svoboda, whose country joined the EU in 2004, arrived on
\nWednesday night in Jakarta on a three-day visit. During his visit
\nto Indonesia, besides attending the ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting
\non Thursday, Svoboda held bilateral talks with his Indonesian
\ncounterpart Hassan Wirayuda and visited tsunami-affected areas in
\nAceh province along with Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for
\nPeople's Welfare Alwi Shihab on Friday.<\/p>\n
During his talks with Hassan, Svoboda raised the issue of
\nissuing visas to Czech citizens arriving in Indonesia at the
\nairports as part of the new drive to boost economic ties.<\/p>\n
\"We will appreciate it, if it is possible to extend the visa
\non arrival facility (VOA) to our citizens arriving in Indonesia.
\nThis will encourage our Czech businessmen, investors and tourists
\nto visit your country,\" said Svoboda, who invited Hassan to visit
\nthe Czech Republic, while referring to his request to Hassan.<\/p>\n
At present, Czech citizens must apply for a visa at the
\nIndonesian Embassy in Prague.<\/p>\n
Asked about the possible areas in which the two governments
\ncould concentrate on, Svoboda said his government had already
\nbeen concentrating areas such as the automotive sector,
\ncooperation in military supplies, the environment and
\nagriculture.<\/p>\n
\"Frankly speaking, we do not concentrate on one particular
\narea, but all the possible potential areas in order to enhance
\nour cooperation,\" the 49-year-old minister, who has a law degree,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
As a new member of the EU, the world's richest regional
\norganization, the Czech Republic wants to increase its exports to
\nEU markets as well as markets in other parts of the world.<\/p>\n
\"Asia is very important for us. Our Czech companies must
\nexport more to the EU markets. But it is also very important for
\nthem to be successful in other markets like China and Indonesia,\"
\nSvoboda said.<\/p>\n
Svoboda, who played a pivotal role in the his country's
\naccession to the EU, also said he appreciated the ongoing
\ndemocratic process in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Geographically we are distant but the democratic process in
\nboth countries brings us closer,\" the veteran politician
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Svoboda met with Alwi on Friday in Medan, and his entourage
\nvisited the tsunami-affected areas in Aceh and distributed
\nhumanitarian aid to local officials.<\/p>\n
The Czech Republic was very active in providing humanitarian
\nassistance to tsunami-affected countries, he explained.<\/p>\n
\"Our government has so far provided 200 million Czech crowns
\n(around US$10 million) and our citizens raised another 210
\nmillion crowns,\" Svoboda said.<\/p>\n
While responding to a question whether Prague would increase
\nits contribution to Indonesia, Svoboda said his government was
\nstill waiting for Indonesia's reconstruction plan.<\/p>\n
\"If there is a request, we can respond in a positive manner.
\nAnd we will take reconstruction issues on a long-term basis,\" the
\nminister said.<\/p>\n
The Czech Ambassador to Indonesia, Jaroslav Vesely said his
\ncountry had sent five plane-loads of humanitarian assistance
\nconsisting of food, medicine, water purification equipment,
\nmedical and school equipment to Indonesia.<\/p>",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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