Business leader warns of damaging impact of anti-U.S. protests
Business leader warns of damaging impact of anti-U.S. protests
Vincent Lingga, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The unqualified success of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
recent state visit to the United States and her powerful speech
to business leaders at a gala dinner in Washington could be
eclipsed if the current anti-American crusade goes overboard,
warned Indonesian business leader Tony Agus Ardie.
Tony said despite their preoccupation with the devastating
impact of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and
Washington, American businesspeople remain greatly interested in
investing in Indonesian development, notably in harnessing the
country's abundant natural resources.
"During a roundtable discussion held before the gala dinner at
the Ritz Carlton hotel, American business leaders were
straightforward in presenting their views to President Megawati
about their role in the Indonesian economy and the problems they
are encountering in implementing that role," Tony said.
As the chairman of the United States committee of the
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tony was the sole
representative of Indonesia's business community at the meeting
which was attended by around 24 CEOs of American companies with
major interests in Indonesia. Megawati was accompanied by the
economics ministers that joined her entourage.
"I observed later at the gala dinner how impressed the
American business community was with Megawati's speech which they
said was powerfully written and well delivered. Several
businessmen and senators I met after Megawati left for Tokyo even
noted that her speech struck a chord in relation to many issues
that resonated with the core of American thinking," Tony said.
But this investment would be wasted if no new American capital
began to flow into the country next year after the dust of the
aftermath of the terrorist attacks settled down. This may well
happen, he added, if the nation could not manage its emotional
response to the attacks on Afghanistan and began to threaten
American interests here.
"A number of businessmen I met in Washington and New York told
me how they could still contribute to the Indonesian economy by
helping small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) set up links
with the export market chain, as has been done so far in Bali and
several other provinces," he said.
American buyers, according to Tony, can help Indonesian SMEs
select the right products for the U.S. market and train locals to
produce according to the designs, patterns or other
specifications preferred by consumers overseas.
"But this can only happen if we act as good hosts to foreign
guests." Here, I think, lies the important role of the next
Indonesian ambassador to the United States in following up the
positive impression left behind by President Megawati.
The businessmen and senators I talked to suggested that the
new ambassador be at least of the same caliber of former
ambassador Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-jakti, now coordinating minister
for the economy and industry, who is a U.S.-trained economist,"
he said.
According to Tony, there are two names currently circulating
in Washington as the candidate for the new Indonesian ambassador
to the U.S. They are Sri Edi Swasono, a U.S.-trained economist,
former chairman of the Indonesian Cooperatives Council and now
professor at the school of economics, University of Indonesia.
The other is Soemadi D.M. Brotodiningrat, a career diplomat, who
is now Indonesia's ambassador to Tokyo and a socio-political
scientist by training.