Harjanto made German consul<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The government of Germany has appointed
\nIndonesian Harjanto Tjokrosetio as its honorary consul here, in a
\nbid to improve economic and cultural relations between the
\nEuropean power and East Java.<\/p>\n
Harjanto was sworn in at a reception Thursday hosted by German
\nAmbassador Heinrich Seemann, who expressed hope that the
\nappointment will result in increased German investment in East
\nJava.<\/p>\n
German investment in Indonesia is concentrated in East Java.
\nIt totals US$1.3 billion, most of which is linked to the power
\nplant development project in Paiton, Situbondo.<\/p>\n
\"Our mission is not only to serve and assist German citizens
\nresiding here, but to be the bridge for many opportunities of
\neconomic cooperation,\" said Harjanto, who studied in Germany
\nbetween 1969 and 1976.<\/p>\n
\"Our German partners are not seeking possibilities with giant
\ncompanies. They are more interested in small and medium
\ncompanies,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is the only country in which Germany has honorary
\nconsuls. They are posted in Medan, Bali and now Surabaya. Some
\n180,000 Germans visit the tourist island of Bali every year.<\/p>\n
Seemann said the appointment of another honorary consul was
\nnot because one of the country's friends, B.J. Habibie, might
\nwell become Indonesia's next vice president.<\/p>\n
\"This has nothing to do with Mr. Habibie,\" he said. \"I visited
\nEast Java two years ago... and realized that everybody had been
\nsleeping.<\/p>\n
\"This is an interesting province with great prospects, and
\nnobody seemed to realize this,\" he said. \"The process (to appoint
\nan honorary consul) was a long one, and started before anybody
\neven talked about the vice presidency for Habibie.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Antara reported that Seemann intentionally traveled
\nto Surabaya from Jakarta by car instead of by airplane, to
\ndemonstrate that travel in Indonesia is safe despite widespread
\nsocial unrest.<\/p>\n
He left Jakarta on Wednesday and arrived Thursday. (26)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/harjanto-made-german-consul-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }