Jakarta to exchange missions with Seoul

Jakarta to exchange missions with Seoul

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta administration and the Seoul
Metropolitan Government of South Korea have agreed recently to
exchange missions in an effort to strengthen the sister-city
relationship, officials said.

"Exchanging missions will strengthen the sister-city relation
between the two cities, which was established in 1984," head of
Jakarta Intercity Cooperation Office, Aurora Tambunan, told The
Jakarta Post early this week.

Another official of the Office said the exchange programs
would focus on financial and investment sectors.

"Seoul will send its city councillors later this year to meet
their counterparts here to discuss city financial affairs. In
return, Jakarta councillors will visit Seoul in 2001," the
Office's head of international cooperation division Terman
Siregar said.

"Jakarta will send investment officials and businesspeople to
a meeting with their South Korean counterparts and seek business
opportunities there," he added.

Terman dubbed Seoul as one of the four cities that have
actively maintained relations with Jakarta. The other three are
Rotterdam, Paris and Tokyo.

"Seoul always gave its hand when we were in need, although not
as lavishly as Tokyo Metropolitan Government. But, Seoul is
always committed with its foreign relations," said Terman.

In addition to the four cities, Jakarta also has sister-city
relations with eight other cities or states in various regions:
Beijing in China, Berlin in Germany, Casablanca in Morocco,
Islamabad in Pakistan, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Los Angeles and
State of Arkansas in the United States, and New South Wales in
Australia.

"Currently, there are 20 cities or states who have expressed
their interest to establish sister-city relations with Jakarta,"
said Terman.

He said Jakarta would soon establish relations with three out
of the 20 cities, namely Bangkok in Thailand, Istanbul in Turkey
and Sao Paulo in Brazil.

"We chose Bangkok because it has conditions similar to
Jakarta. We can learn more from their success stories, especially
its city development policies," he said.

"As for Istanbul, we want to improve skills of city officials
to restore and maintain old buildings," he added.

Terman said the Memorandums of Understanding with Bangkok and
Istanbul would be signed later this year, and with Sao Paulo some
time next year.

"We'll concentrate on establishing industrial and commercial
sector relations with Sao Paulo. Indonesian businesspeople are
urged to take this opportunity," he said.

"Besides, we have yet to establish a sister city in the Latin
American region," he added.

Commenting on criticism that such programs would only waste
money, both Aurora and Terman said the benefits of such relations
would not be obtained instantly, but in the long term.

"It's just like spending your money for promotional
activities. We have to wait for the results," said Aurora.

"The benefits are not to be realized right now. This is a long
term investment so we have to be very patient," Terman said.

"It's important to use the opportunities we have to establish
sister city relationships," he added, explaining that the office
was only a coordinator for establishing such relations with other
cities or regions. (nvn)