JP\/18\/CHILE<\/p>\n
Bali, a major gateway for Chilean tourists, businesses
\n
\nRita A. Widiadana
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Sanur
\n
\nOnly weeks before the Oct. 1, 2005 bombing tragedy in Kuta and
\nJimbaran, the Chilean government opened its honorary consulate
\noffice here in Bali. A sense of optimism still filled the
\natmosphere.<\/p>\n
On a relaxed Saturday morning in a Sanur villa office, Chile's
\nAmbassador to Indonesia James Sinclair Manley and Honorary Consul
\nof Chile in Bali Bernard Haymos talked to The Jakarta Post in
\nconnection with the opening of the consulate office, which
\ncoincided with the 40th anniversary of Indonesian-Chilean
\ndiplomatic relations.<\/p>\n
\"We chose Bali because the island has been a very attractive
\ntourist destination,\" the ambassador said while sipping coffee.<\/p>\n
Dressed in a colorful beach shirt, the envoy looked casual.
\n\"When we talk about Indonesia in Chile, Bali has always been the
\ncentral picture for many people in my country,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I first came here in l997 for a brief visit and I was so
\nimpressed by the island's beauty and culture,\" he recalled.<\/p>\n
Once a faraway tropical island located thousands of miles away
\nfrom Chile, Bali is beginning to attract a lot more Chilean
\ntourists and businesses especially after the country's airline
\nLan Chile opened a direct flight from Santiago-Auckland (New
\nZealand)-Sydney (Australia).<\/p>\n
\"Before (we opened the new route), we had to fly almost 70
\nhours from Santiago to any Asian country. Before we arrived here,
\nwe would be lost somewhere in any European country,\" Sinclair
\nquipped.<\/p>\n
The new route has enabled Chileans to travel to Bali and other
\nparts of Indonesia through Sydney on a 21-hour flight. The
\ndistance between Bali and Santiago has become shorter now,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
The Chilean government through Lan Chile, he said, is
\nconsidering examining the terms of a prorate agreement with
\nGaruda Indonesia in order to expand its routes and to increase
\ntourist numbers to both countries.<\/p>\n
\"We are going to have a political consultation in Santiago in
\nthe near future about this agreement,\" Sinclair said.<\/p>\n
Under such an agreement, Lan Chile will cooperate with Garuda
\nIndonesia to transport passengers from Chile and other Latin
\nAmerican countries from Sydney to other destinations in Indonesia
\nincluding Bali, Jakarta and Surabaya.<\/p>\n
For Bali, which desperately needs to the boost the tourist
\nindustry following the recent bomb attacks, the hike in fuel
\nprices and the current economic conditions, penetrating new
\nmarkets including Latin America, Russia and Northern Europe is
\nimperative.<\/p>\n
\"Chile could become an open door for Bali\/Indonesia to reach
\nother major Latin American countries such as Argentina, Brazil
\nand Peru and vice versa,\" said Sinclair.
\n
\nVisa free<\/p>\n
What's more important, he said, both Indonesia and Chile have
\nsigned a visa-free agreement meaning that Indonesians and
\nChileans traveling to both countries need not apply for a visa
\nfor a 60-day visit. Businessmen are required to obtain a business
\nvisa.<\/p>\n
\"So, as we have tourists coming here, businessmen coming to
\nBali; we are trying to build a bridge to connect Chile and
\nIndonesia by opening the honorary consulate office here,\" the
\nenvoy added.<\/p>\n
Chile is interested in importing handicrafts, furniture and
\nwooden products from Bali.<\/p>\n
Currently, the country is planning to import natural gas from
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"This is a new opportunity for Balinese handicraft and
\nfurniture producers to expand their market to Chile and other
\nLatin American countries,\" Haymos said.<\/p>\n
A number of local producers have been visiting the country for
\npromotional efforts.<\/p>\n
During the second Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
\nOcean Related Ministerial meeting here in Nusa Dua last
\nSeptember, the Indonesian and Chilean governments represented by
\nIndonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Freddy
\nNumbery and Chilean Undersecretary of Fisheries Hector Felipe
\nSandoval signed an agreement to develop the seaweed industry in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia has huge potential. We have 1.11 million hectares
\nof land (coastal area) for the development of seaweed, yet our
\nproduction is still very low at only 3.9 million kilograms,\"
\nMinister Numbery said.<\/p>\n
Chile has been successful in developing seaweed and other
\nmarine products including fresh seafood and fish food. Chile and
\nPeru are the major exporters of fish food to Indonesia. The
\ncountry also exports wine.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and Chile have to explore more opportunities in the
\nfields of trade, commerce and industry, including tourism,\" added
\nHaymos.<\/p>\n
Haymos, who has been living in Bali for more than 17 years,
\nexplained that businessmen from Chile and other Latin American
\ncountries are looking forward to closely co-operating with local
\nbusinesses.<\/p>\n
The consulate office, he said, would provide all the
\ninformation needed. \"We also want to enhance cultural cooperation
\nbetween the two countries,\" he said.
\n
\nFor more information, please contact: Embassy of Chile, Bina
\nMulia Bldg, 7th Floor, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav X, phone 62-21
\n2525021\/1982, fax 62-21 5201955, e-mail: emchijak@indosat.net.id,
\nHonorary Consulate of Chile in Bali, Jl. Pengembak Gg. 1 No.3,
\nSanur 80827, phone ; 62-361 281503; fax: 62-361 285216
\ne-mail: chilehonconsulate@bali-villa.com.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp18chile-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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