Germany 'rediscovers' all that Indonesia has to offer<\/p>\n
By Bruce Emond<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): When people ask German Ambassador to Indonesia
\nDr. Heinrich Seemann what Indonesia is really like, he tells them
\nto look out of the windows in his office at Jl. MH Thamrin's
\nvibrant skyline.<\/p>\n
\"This is the Indonesia I know,\" he said. \"It is not merely the
\nimages of paddy fields in Bali that most Germans think of. There
\nis much more.\"<\/p>\n
As Germany celebrates its seventh year of reunification today,
\nthe country is embarking on a concerted effort to shift its focus
\nback to the emerging economic powers in Asia, including
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Although his government had never abandoned its long-standing
\ninterest in the region, Seemann acknowledged that Asia had sat on
\nthe back burner of priorities in recent years as Germany put its
\nown house in order.<\/p>\n
\"The reunification was a great event because it was achieved
\nthrough peaceful demonstrations and, thank God, there were no
\nmassacres,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Initial euphoria was followed by a sobering realization of the
\ndaunting task of unifying nations with hugely disparate economic
\nand social systems.<\/p>\n
\"Economically and psychologically, the reunification was much
\nharder than expected. For example, there was no unemployment in
\nEast Germany, just like in other communist states. You were
\ndealing with factories which had 50 percent of their workforce
\ndoing nothing.\"<\/p>\n
The German government has pumped 150 billion DM annually into
\nputting the beleaguered economy and infrastructure of the former
\nEast German states back in working order.<\/p>\n
The collapse of the Eastern Bloc -- and the accompanying
\ndemise of the market network linking the countries -- created the
\nadditional concern of a looming flood of economic refugees.<\/p>\n
\"We had two alternatives,\" Seemann said. \"Either we could
\nbuild big walls to protect ourselves or try to develop these.
\nObviously, we chose the latter but it cost a lot of money to do
\nit.\"<\/p>\n
Bound by the necessity of taking care of business on the home
\nfront, Germany's active presence in Asia inevitably tailed off.<\/p>\n
\"The problems from reunification contributed to the issues we
\nface today,\" Seemann said. \"It is difficult to be in both markets
\nat the same time.\"<\/p>\n
With much headway made in confronting domestic problems,
\nGermany is now turning its attention back to Asia in what Seemann
\nterms a \"rediscovery ... we heard the music playing in Asia and
\nknew we should have a greater role\".<\/p>\n
This renewed focus on Asia has come in tandem with a German
\nforeign policy emphasizing stepped-up economic, political and
\ncultural relations in the region.<\/p>\n
Indonesia naturally figures prominently in these designs for
\nthe future, Seemann said. The German Federation of Chambers of
\nCommerce placed the country atop a survey of investment
\nopportunities which compared Indonesia with China and India.<\/p>\n
The ambassador said close German-Indonesian relations today --
\nsignified by German Chancellor Kohl's four visits to Jakarta --
\nhad deep historical roots.<\/p>\n
\"Thousands of Germans lived and worked in the Dutch East
\nIndies and German was even a required language of study in
\nschools,\" he said. \" After World War II and the war of
\nindependence here, Indonesia was not inclined to renew its ties
\nwith the Netherlands but did so with Germany, which had a similar
\nlanguage and culture to the Dutch.\"<\/p>\n
German universities were the most popular choices for
\nIndonesian students during the 1950s and 1960s, with Minister of
\nResearch and Technology B.J. Habibie and the late fashion
\ndesigner Prajudi among the graduates.<\/p>\n
Seemann conceded that the higher education relationship had
\n\"lost some of its momentum\" in the wake of slick promotional
\nefforts by U.S. and Australian schools to enroll Indonesian
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
\"The problem is that we have a state university system and we
\nneglected the marketing side. But that does not detract from the
\nfact that state universities offer an excellent product.<\/p>\n
\"We participated for the first time this May in an education
\nfair for Indonesian students.\"<\/p>\n
Business ties are also getting a boost. In addition to the
\nmany German companies with long-established ties in Indonesia --
\nengineering giant Siemens opened its Jakarta office 143 years ago
\n-- reach out efforts are being made to small and medium firms.<\/p>\n
\"There used to be a time when German businessmen brave enough
\nto do so would come here on a plane, get a list of phone numbers
\nand sit in their hotel room trying to make a connection,\" Seemann
\nsaid. \"We are now establishing centers to help them.\"<\/p>\n
Modeled on the successful German Center in Singapore, the
\nGerman Center for Industry and Trade at Bumi Serpong Damai, 25
\nkilometers west of Jakarta, will provide businesspeople with the
\ninformation they need in facilitating their entry into the local
\nmarket.<\/p>\n
The Indonesia-Germany Forum for Economy and Technology,
\nspearheaded by minister Habibie, is also striving to better the
\nnations' cooperation.<\/p>\n
Seemann is full of praise for the minister.<\/p>\n
\"He has a very strong vision of the future. He is not just
\nthinking about tomorrow.<\/p>\n
\"People need this today because tomorrow is almost yesterday
\nin the world of technology.\"<\/p>\n
Still more can be done, Seemann said, particularly from the
\nIndonesian side.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia needs to be more aggressive in raising its profile
\nfor industry. It did it successfully with tourism, so it could do
\nthe same in this sector.\"<\/p>\n
Ending the misconceptions among Germans about Indonesia is
\nneeded.<\/p>\n
\"Germans either think about Bali or, if they are more
\npolitically minded, East Timor if they hear Indonesia,\" Seemann
\nsaid. \"The reality of what Indonesia really has to offer gets
\nlost somewhere between these two points.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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