Czech Republic to boost economic ties with RI

Czech Republic to boost economic ties with RI

Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Czech Republic, a small Central European state, wants to improve
upon its existing economic relations with Indonesia, Czech
Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda said in Jakarta on Thursday.

"Our relations with Indonesia are excellent. We don't have any
problematic aspects in our bilateral ties. We want to give a new
impetus to boost our economic ties because they do not reflect
both countries' potential," Minister Svoboda told The Jakarta
Post on Thursday in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of
the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-European
Union (EU) Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta.

Indonesia exported roughly some US$120 million worth of goods
to the Czech Republic and its imports reached around $20 million
in 2004. Though the bilateral trade has been increasing from year
to year, there is great potential for the countries in economic
terms. For example, the total value of the bilateral trade in
1993 was just $30 million but jumped to $135 million in 2003.

Svoboda, whose country joined the EU in 2004, arrived on
Wednesday night in Jakarta on a three-day visit. During his visit
to Indonesia, besides attending the ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting
on Thursday, Svoboda held bilateral talks with his Indonesian
counterpart Hassan Wirayuda and visited tsunami-affected areas in
Aceh province along with Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare Alwi Shihab on Friday.

During his talks with Hassan, Svoboda raised the issue of
issuing visas to Czech citizens arriving in Indonesia at the
airports as part of the new drive to boost economic ties.

"We will appreciate it, if it is possible to extend the visa
on arrival facility (VOA) to our citizens arriving in Indonesia.
This will encourage our Czech businessmen, investors and tourists
to visit your country," said Svoboda, who invited Hassan to visit
the Czech Republic, while referring to his request to Hassan.

At present, Czech citizens must apply for a visa at the
Indonesian Embassy in Prague.

Asked about the possible areas in which the two governments
could concentrate on, Svoboda said his government had already
been concentrating areas such as the automotive sector,
cooperation in military supplies, the environment and
agriculture.

"Frankly speaking, we do not concentrate on one particular
area, but all the possible potential areas in order to enhance
our cooperation," the 49-year-old minister, who has a law degree,
said.

As a new member of the EU, the world's richest regional
organization, the Czech Republic wants to increase its exports to
EU markets as well as markets in other parts of the world.

"Asia is very important for us. Our Czech companies must
export more to the EU markets. But it is also very important for
them to be successful in other markets like China and Indonesia,"
Svoboda said.

Svoboda, who played a pivotal role in the his country's
accession to the EU, also said he appreciated the ongoing
democratic process in Indonesia.

"Geographically we are distant but the democratic process in
both countries brings us closer," the veteran politician
explained.

Svoboda met with Alwi on Friday in Medan, and his entourage
visited the tsunami-affected areas in Aceh and distributed
humanitarian aid to local officials.

The Czech Republic was very active in providing humanitarian
assistance to tsunami-affected countries, he explained.

"Our government has so far provided 200 million Czech crowns
(around US$10 million) and our citizens raised another 210
million crowns," Svoboda said.

While responding to a question whether Prague would increase
its contribution to Indonesia, Svoboda said his government was
still waiting for Indonesia's reconstruction plan.

"If there is a request, we can respond in a positive manner.
And we will take reconstruction issues on a long-term basis," the
minister said.

The Czech Ambassador to Indonesia, Jaroslav Vesely said his
country had sent five plane-loads of humanitarian assistance
consisting of food, medicine, water purification equipment,
medical and school equipment to Indonesia.