Germany 'rediscovers' all that Indonesia has to offer
Germany 'rediscovers' all that Indonesia has to offer
By Bruce Emond
JAKARTA (JP): When people ask German Ambassador to Indonesia
Dr. Heinrich Seemann what Indonesia is really like, he tells them
to look out of the windows in his office at Jl. MH Thamrin's
vibrant skyline.
"This is the Indonesia I know," he said. "It is not merely the
images of paddy fields in Bali that most Germans think of. There
is much more."
As Germany celebrates its seventh year of reunification today,
the country is embarking on a concerted effort to shift its focus
back to the emerging economic powers in Asia, including
Indonesia.
Although his government had never abandoned its long-standing
interest in the region, Seemann acknowledged that Asia had sat on
the back burner of priorities in recent years as Germany put its
own house in order.
"The reunification was a great event because it was achieved
through peaceful demonstrations and, thank God, there were no
massacres," he said.
Initial euphoria was followed by a sobering realization of the
daunting task of unifying nations with hugely disparate economic
and social systems.
"Economically and psychologically, the reunification was much
harder than expected. For example, there was no unemployment in
East Germany, just like in other communist states. You were
dealing with factories which had 50 percent of their workforce
doing nothing."
The German government has pumped 150 billion DM annually into
putting the beleaguered economy and infrastructure of the former
East German states back in working order.
The collapse of the Eastern Bloc -- and the accompanying
demise of the market network linking the countries -- created the
additional concern of a looming flood of economic refugees.
"We had two alternatives," Seemann said. "Either we could
build big walls to protect ourselves or try to develop these.
Obviously, we chose the latter but it cost a lot of money to do
it."
Bound by the necessity of taking care of business on the home
front, Germany's active presence in Asia inevitably tailed off.
"The problems from reunification contributed to the issues we
face today," Seemann said. "It is difficult to be in both markets
at the same time."
With much headway made in confronting domestic problems,
Germany is now turning its attention back to Asia in what Seemann
terms a "rediscovery ... we heard the music playing in Asia and
knew we should have a greater role".
This renewed focus on Asia has come in tandem with a German
foreign policy emphasizing stepped-up economic, political and
cultural relations in the region.
Indonesia naturally figures prominently in these designs for
the future, Seemann said. The German Federation of Chambers of
Commerce placed the country atop a survey of investment
opportunities which compared Indonesia with China and India.
The ambassador said close German-Indonesian relations today --
signified by German Chancellor Kohl's four visits to Jakarta --
had deep historical roots.
"Thousands of Germans lived and worked in the Dutch East
Indies and German was even a required language of study in
schools," he said. " After World War II and the war of
independence here, Indonesia was not inclined to renew its ties
with the Netherlands but did so with Germany, which had a similar
language and culture to the Dutch."
German universities were the most popular choices for
Indonesian students during the 1950s and 1960s, with Minister of
Research and Technology B.J. Habibie and the late fashion
designer Prajudi among the graduates.
Seemann conceded that the higher education relationship had
"lost some of its momentum" in the wake of slick promotional
efforts by U.S. and Australian schools to enroll Indonesian
students.
"The problem is that we have a state university system and we
neglected the marketing side. But that does not detract from the
fact that state universities offer an excellent product.
"We participated for the first time this May in an education
fair for Indonesian students."
Business ties are also getting a boost. In addition to the
many German companies with long-established ties in Indonesia --
engineering giant Siemens opened its Jakarta office 143 years ago
-- reach out efforts are being made to small and medium firms.
"There used to be a time when German businessmen brave enough
to do so would come here on a plane, get a list of phone numbers
and sit in their hotel room trying to make a connection," Seemann
said. "We are now establishing centers to help them."
Modeled on the successful German Center in Singapore, the
German Center for Industry and Trade at Bumi Serpong Damai, 25
kilometers west of Jakarta, will provide businesspeople with the
information they need in facilitating their entry into the local
market.
The Indonesia-Germany Forum for Economy and Technology,
spearheaded by minister Habibie, is also striving to better the
nations' cooperation.
Seemann is full of praise for the minister.
"He has a very strong vision of the future. He is not just
thinking about tomorrow.
"People need this today because tomorrow is almost yesterday
in the world of technology."
Still more can be done, Seemann said, particularly from the
Indonesian side.
"Indonesia needs to be more aggressive in raising its profile
for industry. It did it successfully with tourism, so it could do
the same in this sector."
Ending the misconceptions among Germans about Indonesia is
needed.
"Germans either think about Bali or, if they are more
politically minded, East Timor if they hear Indonesia," Seemann
said. "The reality of what Indonesia really has to offer gets
lost somewhere between these two points."