Message from the Ambassador

Message from the Ambassador

The celebration of a national day affords the opportunity to
illustrate the relations between two countries and, where
possible, their strength and depth. I will not abstain from this
outstanding task and, therefore, I am proud to remind everyone
that the first documented contact between Italy and Indonesia is
found in Milione, the famous book by Marco Polo.

The great traveler visited Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Java, Bali
and Sumatra in the 13th century and recorded precious information
about the traditions of their peoples. Some historians believe
that the Indonesian archipelago may have been visited by a
mission a thousand years earlier that was sent by the Roman
Emperor Antoninus Pius and noted in the chronicles of the Han
dynasty in China but we do not yet possess any strong evidence of
this event.

Three centuries after Marco Polo, another Italian, Antonio
Pigafetta, one of Ferdinand Magellan's lieutenants, wrote an
Italian-Indonesian dictionary. Relations between our two
countries have improved since Indonesian independence and the
founding of the Republic of Italy.

These events took place within a year of each other. Today,
Italy ranks third among European Union (EU) trading partners of
Indonesia. There are many joint ventures active in tourism,
metallurgy, chemicals, textiles, food, wood and furniture.
Italian investments stood at US$80 million at the end of 1998.

Italy is ready to put at Indonesia's disposal its expertise in
economic and technological fields, particularly in small and
medium enterprises. Last October, a memorandum of understanding
was signed, and an Indonesian delegation was invited to visit
Italy to look at small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which
relate to traditional local markets, production and services,
subcontractors, production of spare parts and components and an
advanced supply services.

Today, SMEs produce 75 percent of Italy's GNP. Italy is also
involved in technological cooperation. During the visit of the
Minister of Research and Technology Zuhal, two agreements were
signed with relevant Italian institutions in the fields of
research and study of alternative energy sources.

A seminar covering this sector will be held soon in
cooperation with the University of Rome. We aim to
institutionalize cooperation between Italian and Indonesian
business with the creation of a permanent Italian-Indonesian
Forum, which we hope will be established this year.

I put great hope in an Italian-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce.
I am happy to announce that my government, in response to an
international appeal, is delivering food aid worth US$7 million
to Indonesia. We are also at work trying to tighten links between
us in development activities. Very shortly, an Italian Cultural
Center will be set up here in Jakarta. It will put on displays of
Italian films and art as well as seminars, while continuing the
popular Italian language courses.

I hope that this will strengthen the bonds between us. On an
academic level, a high-powered delegation of Italian university
rectors will visit Indonesia in July, in order to further
cooperation with Indonesian universities. Italy has always
considered Indonesia an important partner. There has been renewed
Italian interest in matters concerning Indonesia and we confirm
to begin a new chapter in our relations.

Indonesia is in the process of becoming one of the world's
largest democracies and Italy's government is supporting the
electoral process through an EU program. Italian observers will
take part in the monitoring of Indonesian elections. A seminar
will be held soon in which Italian and Indonesian journalists are
to exchange opinions and experiences in the field of political
journalism.

An Italian trade union delegation will participate in a
seminar covering labor legislation and social security. Italian
solidarity is expressed in helping to bring Indonesia out of its
economic crisis and in helping it build a democracy.

Finally, I would like to address my warmest greetings to the
Italian community in Indonesia and to the many Indonesian friends
of our Bella Italia. We are particularly grateful for all their
hard work, which continually contributes to improve relations
between our two countries.