Poland eyes long-term strategic partnership with Indonesia
Poland eyes long-term strategic partnership with Indonesia
Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Poland's relations with Indonesia have been traditionally warm
and friendly. But the present relationship fails to take
advantage fully of both countries' potential. That is why the new
Polish ambassador to Indonesia wants to give a new impetus to the
existing relationship to forge a long-term strategic partnership
between the countries.
"We consider Indonesia -- one of the world's biggest nations
-- as a long-term strategic partner. This was mentioned in our
foreign policy strategy on non-European countries. Indonesia has
huge potential for economic cooperation given its over 220
million population and abundant natural resources," Ambassador
Tomasz Lukaszuk, who submitted his credentials to President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on March 29, 2005, said.
Like Indonesia, Poland is an emerging democracy. In the past
decade, Poland has focused its energy on strengthening democracy
and reforming its economy, political institutions and defense
sector to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and
the European Union (EU).
Having achieved its major national objectives of joining NATO
in 1999 and the EU in 2004, Poland is now turning its attention
to Asia -- a key engine of the world economy as well as the new
strategic hub in international politics -- and other parts of the
world.
In Asia, Indonesia -- home to the world's largest Muslim
population -- is seen by Poland as an important country for
forging a new strategic partnership.
Tomasz said 2005 would be a time for widening bilateral
cooperation in areas like the shipbuilding, chemical, mining,
defense, education, transportation and cultural sectors.
"This year is very important in our bilateral relations. In
November, we will commemorate the 50 years of Poland's
establishment of diplomatic relations with Indonesia. I will
focus on building this strategic partnership with Indonesia
during my term in Jakarta," Tomasz, who is the youngest
ambassador in town, told The Jakarta Post recently during an
interview at his office.
The 40-year-old career diplomat, who is an authority on
Indonesian matters, has many plans in mind.
"We are making efforts to improve our bilateral trade with
Indonesia. Bilateral trade in 2004 was US$400 million, which for
the first time reached the precrisis level. It's a positive sign.
We would like to focus on three key sectors -- shipbuilding,
mining and chemical -- to improve our trade with Indonesia."
Tomasz said.
There are many interesting aspects to bilateral trade between
Poland and Indonesia.
"First, the trade balance has always been in favor of
Indonesia. For example, last year Poland imported $340 million
worth of goods from Indonesia. Our exports reached just $60
million. About 60 percent of Indonesian exports to Poland
constituted electronics and computer spare parts. That means we
are not importing raw materials but manufactured goods from this
country," Tomasz, who speaks fluent Indonesian, said.
Furniture and garments are the other main items being exported
by Indonesia to Poland.
Poland exports transportation equipment, including planes and
helicopters, mining equipment and small boats to Indonesia.
Poland is also planning to increase investment in Indonesia.
"We encourage our investors to invest in Indonesia, the
biggest market in Southeast Asia. We are planning to invest here.
Our investments are not just confined to money matters. We are
ready to transfer our technology to Indonesia," he said.
With Indonesia and Poland poised to become long-term strategic
partners, the defense sector is an important dimension of the
opportunity beckoning the two nations.
Poland is one of the world's key arms manufacturers. Its
tanks, especially the modified T-72s, antitank missiles and radar
systems are some of the Polish products that have become
favorites among Asian countries.
Given Indonesia's efforts to diversify its sources of defense
equipment in response to the U.S. military embargo, Poland could
be a very good choice for fulfilling Indonesia's defense needs.
Commenting on Poland's defense links with Indonesia, Tomasz
said the embryonic defense cooperation between the two countries
was slowly moving forward.
"Our defense ties with Indonesia are not trade oriented. It's
a cooperation between the two nations. It has just begun.
Hopefully, it will grow further," Tomasz said.
Poland, he said, also plans to strengthen its cultural links,
especially in education, with Indonesia.
"In 2003, we signed a bilateral agreement on culture and
education. The Indonesian government has been awarding 15
scholarships to Polish students to study in Indonesia every year.
We appreciate this and will reciprocate very soon," Tomasz said.
Indonesia and Poland share similar perceptions on many
international issues, and the two countries' leaders enjoy a good
rapport.
"At the political level, we have excellent relations. This was
represented in the high-level visits by both countries' leaders.
In April 2003, Indonesia's then president Megawati Soekarnoputri
visited Poland and our President Aleksander Kwasniewski visited
Indonesia in February 2004. I am sure that under President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, our bilateral relations will grow further,"
Tomasz said.