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