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.