Chile ambassador is totally devoted to trade
By Prapti Widinugraheni
Chile's new ambassador Fernando Cousino assumed his post in Indonesia last month. The ambassador agreed to this interview with The Jakarta Post to discuss his personal views and background.
JAKARTA (JP): While trade is always a crucial and exciting field in promoting relations between two countries, Chile's Ambassador Fernando Cousino deserves the title of being a totally trade-devoted, trade-oriented envoy.
Right from the beginning of the interview with The Jakarta Post, it was easy to see that Cousino's mind was absolutely set on trade.
"My ambition is to leave Jakarta with double the trade we have now and see more trade mission exchanges," said Cousino, who replaced Raul Schmidt Dussaillant and presented his credentials to President Soeharto on Aug. 4.
Surprisingly, Cousino is not a graduate of economics.
He chose trade because he was often offered posts on the trade side and, being deeply interested, simply specialized in the field, he said.
"It is not a coincidence, it is a matter of choice. I don't believe coincidences exist in life. You create the conditions and when you have an opportunity, you can take it or not," he said.
Cousino has served as Commercial Counselor to the United Kingdom, Minister Counselor to the European Community and Deputy Director of the ministry's Economic Division during his 30 years of service.
He was also a delegate in a number of economic forums, such as the Pacific Basin Economic Council and the International Sugar, Cocoa and Coffee Organization as well as participating in a trade mission to Pacific Rim countries.
His country, a long, narrow strip of land on the east coast of South America has developed rapidly over the last few years.
The Washington based Institute for International Economics awarded Chile a maximum grade in fiscal discipline, foreign debt, exchange stability and market-oriented policy.
While most Latin American countries pose high risks to foreign investment, the Washington based Moody's evaluation agency ranked Chile as the only "medium risk" country -- the lowest level of risk -- in the region.
Chile's rapid development coincided with 15 years of active participation in various trans-Pacific forums including the Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference and the Pacific Basin Economic Council.
The country will soon become a full-fledged member of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. President Eduardo Frei's attendance in the upcoming APEC Summit in Bogor, West Java, in November, will mark Chile's entry into the forum.
Cousino explained that although Chile only started to explore the Pacific in the early 1970s, relations with the region had begun as early as the 19th century.
At this time, Chile was engaged in trade with Hong Kong, China and southwards to Australia, he said. "We had a good fleet and our coins were even used in those ports as valid currency".
Later in the 1970s Chile realized it should explore and consolidate its relationship with Asia Pacific countries as well. It was during these years that Chilean embassies and trade consulates were established in this part of the world, he said.
It was also during this period that Cousino made his first visit to Indonesia, when he joined the first formal trade mission to Pacific Rim countries in 1977.
"Jakarta was very different then. During the visit I also met with President Soeharto," he said, recalling the visit.
He did not come here unprepared. "You always have to prepare yourself because each new country is a challenge, because it comprises new cultures, new mentalities, new people," he said.
Cousino believes that such a challenge should be faced first and foremost by understanding the country's language.
"My wife and I will take lessons in Bahasa Indonesia. I can't stand not being able to communicate with people, I need to talk to people," he reasoned.
This side of Cousino is perhaps why he will also devote a certain amount of effort to increase cultural ties and understanding.
"Aside from trade missions, I would also like to see cultural exchanges, because the only way to come to good agreements and create relationships is to know each other better," Cousino said.
"The challenge for Chileans is to make Chile better-known here as it is the challenge for Indonesian Ambassador Sukarno in Chile".
Cousino described his posting in Jakarta as "an award" since the information he obtained on Indonesia had been "very positive".
He pointed out there were many areas of cooperation Chile and Indonesia could coincide in, citing the United Nations sponsored World Summit on Social Development, which is scheduled for next year in Copenhagen, the UN Security Council, the Non-Aligned Movement and the APEC as several examples.
Cousino graduated from Faculty of Political Science, with a major in international relations, at the University of Chile.
A father of six and a grandfather of four, Cousino considers himself a fanatic golf enthusiast -- he has been playing since he was 14.
Cousino believes impressions play an important role in the relationship between two countries.
"That's why I recommend the people of Indonesia visit my country," he concluded.