Return to a maritime country<\/p>\n
One project offered at the recently concluded Indonesian
\nInfrastructure Summit held in Jakarta from Jan. 17 to Jan. 18 was
\na port development to function as a hub for shipping imports and
\nexports.<\/p>\n
Indonesian exports shipped out of the country for decades have
\nfirst been sent to larger ports in Singapore or Malaysia, making
\nus very much dependent on foreign vessels and leaving local
\nshipping companies underdeveloped. All this costs the country an
\nunbelievable US$2 billion a year (The Jakarta Post, Jan. 17).<\/p>\n
Every Indonesian as early as junior high school is taught
\nabout the glory of our ancestors who made this country a maritime
\nnation when the Buddhist dynasty of Sriwijaya ruled the waves.
\nIts trading ships whose models are depicted on reliefs found in
\nthe Borobudur temple in Central Java, sailed as far as West
\nAfrica's Ghana. This was proved by an expedition voyage tracing
\nthe cinnamon route, which successfully set sail from Jakarta on
\nAug. 15, 2003, arriving at Accra on Feb. 23 last year.<\/p>\n
In view of the local and foreign investors' interest in
\nparticipating in the summit, in which no less than 20 major
\neconomies were represented, it is now a good time to return the
\ncountry to a maritime nation by developing its seaports and
\nshipping companies.<\/p>\n
Although President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono assured all
\nparticipants he was serious about eliminating obstructions to
\ninvestment and economic activities (the Post, Jan. 18), it has
\nyet to be seen how his intentions will be implemented.<\/p>\n
Most foreign participants have complained about the many
\nthings that impede the creation of conducive investment climate,
\nnotably legal uncertainty and rampant corruption.<\/p>\n
These two important matters should be seriously addressed by
\nthe President. But how? The readiness of foreign investors and
\nthe international community to help develop the nation's
\ninfrastructure -- to spur on its growth -- needs to be quickly
\nresponded to.<\/p>\n
The recently issued Presidential Instruction No, 5\/2004 on
\ncorruption eradication, a campaign that Susilo himself
\nspearheads, must be implemented. So far, since its issuance on
\nDec. 9 -- marking a national Antigraft Day -- it has not produced
\nany signs of a result. People are yet to witness what Susilo and
\nhis Cabinet will do to implement this instruction.<\/p>\n
Surely, $2 billion of lost revenue is worth the effort.<\/p>\n
M. RUSDI
\nJakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/return-to-a-maritime-country-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}