Farewell, Indonesia

Farewell, Indonesia

Time really flies. It seems only yesterday I first touched the
rich soil of Indonesia, on March 6, 1991. Now I have to bid
farewell to this lovely country after having served more than
five years as my country's information Director with the Taipei
Economic and Trade Office, which represents the ROC's interests
in Indonesia in the absence of diplomatic relations.

To enhance ties between the two countries through better
understanding is part and parcel of my job. I am very glad to
witness the tremendous progress that has been made in the past
five years between Indonesia and Taiwan in terms of investment,
trade and tourism, to name only a few.

Until the end of 1990, Taiwanese investment in Indonesia stood
at only US$1.87 billion. As of June 30, 1996, that investment had
reached $9.09 billion, an increase of 500 percent in five and a
half years. Two-way trade between the two countries in 1990
amounted to $2.16 billion. It had increased to $4.2 billion in
1995, doubling in size, with Indonesia enjoying a surplus. In
1990, Indonesia received about 125,000 Taiwanese visitors. In
1995, more than 800,000 of us visited Indonesia, an increase of
almost 650 percent. Judging from the vitality shown by both
countries, I believe that all these numbers will reach another
peak by the year 2000.

One more thing worth mentioning is the entrepreneurship
training program provided by Taiwan for Indonesian youths. The
program is sponsored by Taipei's International Economic and
Development Fund with assistance from related Indonesian
organizations. Currently more than 400 Indonesian youths are on
the program in Taiwanese manufacturing industries. Besides
learning basic skill on production lines, workshops in areas such
as business management and marketing are also provided, so that
when they come back to Indonesia they are already equipped with
the knowledge needed to start their own enterprises. I hope these
Indonesian youths become the seeds for Indonesia's steady
economic development in the years to come.

Much as I and my wife want to stay in this beautiful country,
we have to leave very soon. More than any other foreign
assignment, Indonesia has become a part of us. The fantastic
memory of Indonesia will surely haunt us in the many years to
come.

Thank you again for your friendship. Farewell, Indonesia.
There will not be a day for the rest of my life I will not think
of you -- and wish you well.

DAVID Y.S. TZOU

Outgoing Director,

Information Division,

Taipei Economic and Trade Office

Jakarta