Welcome Herr Schroeder
Welcome Herr Schroeder
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder arrives in Indonesia tonight (Tuesday) as part of his four-nation tour of Southeast Asian countries to boost political and trade ties with the region.
His visit to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam, four of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), reinforces Germany's "Concept on Asia" policy which aims at forging closer ties in all spheres with Asia, particularly ASEAN. It also hints that Germany is prepared to play a greater role in Asia as well as face the challenge of greater international responsibility following its strained relations with fellow European Union members and, especially the United States, as a result of differences over the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
But the importance of Schroeder's visit to Jakarta, the first ever made by a German leader following the fall of Soeharto's authoritarian government in 1998, is that he comes at a time when a more democratic Indonesia under President Megawati Soekarnoputri is in dire need of foreign investment to quicken the country's sluggish economic recovery as well as to gain Germany's technological assistance so that Indonesia can keep abreast of the rapid development in information technology and global changes.
Germany has great potential in both areas, and although a large number of German companies have operated in Indonesia -- such as Siemens and Reimelt in helping build the Indonesian telecommunications network and food processing industry, not to mention the assembly plants of luxury cars like Mercedes Benz and BMW -- there are still many more business opportunities and fields of cooperation that the two countries could undertake.
The Indonesian government and businesspeople, understandably, should not miss the opportunity to convince their counterparts from Germany about the possible but realistic ventures that could benefit both sides and create more job openings here in order to improve the prosperity of the people.
Besides, issues such as growing threats of terrorism in the region and increasing international drug and human trafficking can also be added to the list of issues needing bilateral cooperation.
Indonesians have long known Germany and its quality products and millions of them have also praised Chancellor Schroeder's wise policy in banning the right-wing anti-immigrant National Democratic Party in 2000 -- blamed for a spate of racist attacks then -- his public opposition against the Iraq war, as well as his tax cut policy and efforts to reduce unemployment in Germany.
Those measures clearly reflect Schroeder's humanitarian concerns and they have won not only the hearts of the Indonesian people, but also millions of others worldwide.
Herzlich Willkomen Herr Schroeder