S'pore's deputy PM launches ISFA

S'pore's deputy PM launches ISFA

SINGAPORE: Indonesian residents of Singapore as well as
Singaporean citizens last month established a new association to
strengthen the two countries' people-to-people contacts in the
city-state, the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore said in a
statement.

The Indonesia-Singapore Friendship Association (ISFA), a non-
governmental organization, is aimed at improving contacts between
the two countries. It will also focus its activities on education
and socio-cultural fields.

"ISFA will focus on cooperation between the two countries in
education and social cultural fields as part of second track
diplomacy, which is the domain of the non-governmental players,"
the statement, which was sent to The Jakarta Post by the embassy,
said.

ISFA was officially inaugurated by Singapore Deputy Prime
Minister Tony Tan last month at Hotel Meritus Mandarin in
Singapore. The inaugural ceremony was attended by around 600
people, including Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
Wirayuda and State Minister of Administrative Reforms Taufik
Effendi.

ISFA will also begin offering Indonesian language courses,
especially for Singaporeans. -- JP