Connecting goods and people of Pacific, Southeast Asia by Fardah

Jakarta, July 13, 2019 (ANTARA) - The first ever Pacific Exposition highlighting the region’s business, investment, and tourism potential began in Auckland, New Zealand, on July 11, 2019 at Indonesia’s initiative, supported by the governments of New Zealand and Australia. 

Themed “Creating Pacific Momentum”, the expo sees the participation of 123 companies, officials, businessmen, and artists from 20 Pacific countries. These are Solomon Island, Australia, Cook Island, Federated States of Micronesia, and Fiji, in addition to French Polynesia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, and New Zealand. Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa are also participating along with Timor Leste, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia.

“This forum is the first of its kind. We are creating momentum to engage with each other and strengthen our fraternity with fellow Pacific countries and territories," Foreign Minister Retno L. P. Marsudi said.

The Pacific Exposition, which concludes on July 14, includes a range of events from the Tourism Forum (July 11), the Business and Investment Forum (July 12), the Pacific Cultural Forum (July 13), and the Sound of the Pacific Concert (July 14).

The expo was officially opened by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, together with other Pacific countries’ leaders, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters, and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, in the presence of some 400 guests.

Pacific Exposition 2019 will connect the dots between the 17,000 Indonesian islands and the thousands of Pacific islands, Australia and New Zealand, according to Retno Marsudi.

ENTERING A NEW ERA OF THE INDONESIA AND SOUTH PACIFIC RELATIONSHIP

Jakarta, 28/3, 2019 (Antara) - Just a day after hosting a High-Level Dialogue on Indo-Pacific Cooperation themed "Towards a Peaceful, Prosperous, and Inclusive Region", the Indonesia-South Pacific Forum (ISPF) 2019 was organized in Jakarta on March 21, 2019.
The ISPF, themed "Connecting Peoples for Sustainable Growth", was aimed at strengthening economic cooperation in the region and saw the participation of representatives from the private sector from Indonesia and the South Pacific countries.
The meeting was attended by officials from the South Pacific countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Micronesia, Fiji, New Caledonia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Tuvalu.
South Pacific is not only geographically close to Indonesia, but Indonesia also comprises at least 11 million people of the Melanesian race spread across the provinces of Papua, West Papua, Maluku, North Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), he said.
Indonesians and the people of the South Pacific countries belong to one family. We call the Pacific Ocean our home. And our cooperation in developing the South Pacific will define the future that we want to create together for our next generation, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi said in her address entitled New era of Indonesia-South Pacific engagement. 

Indonesia and the South Pacific countries face common challenges that directly impact the communities in the region and range from the rising sea levels to the pursuit of welfare through economic development.

RENEWING CONCRETE INDO-PACIFIC COOPERATION AND TRUST BUILDING

Jakarta, 27/3, 2019 (Antara) - Indonesia is the worlds largest archipelagic nation that strategically straddles the Indian and Pacific oceans in the Indo-Pacific region. Comprising 260 million people or the worlds fourth largest population, it aims to become a peaceful and prosperous region based on mutual trust, respect, and the spirit of cooperation.
The nation initiated a High-Level Dialogue on Indo-Pacific Cooperation themed "Towards a Peaceful, Prosperous, and Inclusive Region", in Jakarta on March 20, 2019, which was attended by delegates from 18 key countries of the Indo-Pacific regions.
The dialogue, which included debates under three themessustainable development goals, maritime cooperation, and infrastructure and connectivitywas aimed at enhancing cooperation and building trust in the Indo-Pacific region, leading to mutually beneficial cooperation based on the principles of openness, inclusive transparency, and respect for international laws.
The meeting was Indonesia's concrete contribution to strengthening the dialogue within the framework of ASEAN for a deeper and more inclusive cooperation within the bloc.
Among those who attended the dialogue were Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Brunei Foreign Minister Erywan Pehin Yusof, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi as the host.
China, India, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam were represented by their vice foreign affairs ministers.
In his opening remarks, Indonesian Vice President M Jusuf Kalla said cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region is crucial to maintaining peace, stability, and economic sustainability amid geo-economic and geo-political developments.

INDONESIA STRENGTHENS TIES WITH SOUTH PACIFIC NATIONS by Fardah

Jakarta, April 7, 2016 (Antara)- Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and his delegation's recent trip to Fiji and Papua New Guinea (PNG) demonstrates Indonesia's commitment to forging strong bilateral relations with South Pacific countries.          The Indonesian delegation arrived in Suva, Fiji, on March 30 for a visit aimed at boosting bilateral relations between Indonesia and Fiji.         Minister Pandjaitan paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister J.V. Bainimarama, held a bilateral meeting with Fiji's Minister for Agricultural, Rural, Maritime Affairs and National Disaster Management Ina Seriaritu, and a luncheon with Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.         The minister extended financial assistance worth US$5 million to help the victims of the Winston typhoon that hit Fiji in February and delivered a letter from President Joko Widodo to Prime Minister  Bainimarama.         In addition to the financial aid, Indonesia also sent US$3 million worth of goods for the victims of the typhoon.         The minister remarked that Indonesia will deploy engineer troops to help reconstruct Queen Victoria School in Lawaki.

"KUPANG MESSAGE" ENCOURAGES P2P CONTACT TO STRENGTEN MELANESIAN COLLABORATION by Fardah

 Jakarta, Nov 3, 2015 (Antara)- The first ever Melanesian Cultural Festival held in Indonesia yielded the "Kupang Message" that called for enhanced people-to-people contact to achieve better collaboration among the region's countries hosting Melanesian population.

         The Melanesian Cultural Festival was held in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, from October 27-30, 2015, to celebrate cultural pluralism in countries having Melanesian population. 
   The festival, hosted by Indonesia, was attended by delegates from New Caledonia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands  and Timor Leste.

        Themed "Celebrating the Cultural Diversity of the Melanesian World,"  the event was aimed at promoting cultural commonalities among South Pacific countries to further enhance cooperation in the region.

          "We will build upon the similarities to enhance collaboration among parties in the region," Cultural Director General at the Indonesian Education and Culture Ministry, Kacung Marijan, said while reading out the Kupang Message on October 28, 2015.

        The Kupang Message also stressed the importance of celebrating the diversity and unity of the Melanesian culture.

MELANESIAN FESTIVAL CELEBRATES CULTURAL DIVERSITY by Fardah

 Jakarta, Oct 28, 2015 (Antara) - The Melanesian Cultural Festival is being held in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on October 27-30, 2015, to celebrate cultural pluralism existing in countries having a Melanesian population. 
  "Diversity must not hinder unity," Indonesian Education and Culture Minister Anies Baswedan noted while opening the Melanesian Cultural Festival themed "Celebrating the Cultural Diversity of Melanesian World", in Kupang, on Oct. 28.

       He said the festival is not only being held due to historical or racial factors but particularly to achieve a common dream of a peaceful, just, and prosperous world.

       Cultural cooperation is a good way to develop a better future for the younger generation as it instills a sense of cooperation in economic, political, and social fields, among others, he remarked.

       "Further interaction will help to create peace and welfare," he stated, adding that having a common vision will help to unify the younger generation.

INDONESIA RENEWS COMMITMENT TO CLOSER TIES WITH PACIFIC COUNTRIES by Fardah

    Jakarta, March 6, 2015 (Antara) - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi has made her first official trip to Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Solomon Islands, and Fiji, seeking to renew Indonesia's commitment to closer relations and cooperation with them.

       The minister commenced her visit to PNG on Feb. 26 and proceeded to the Solomon Islands on Feb. 29, continuing forward to Fiji on March 1.

       Economic cooperation is the main focus of talks with these Pacific nations' officials. "Although the value of economic ties with these countries is relatively low, the trend has been improving over the past few years," the ministry's spokesman, Arrmanatha Nasir, said recently, prior to the minister's visit.

        The minister focused in particular on developing greater cooperation between the private sector companies of Indonesia and these Pacific countries to explore wide-open opportunities for trade and investment.

        The visit is also expected to improve connectivity between the Pacific nations and Indonesia, which acts as a gateway to the ASEAN countries for them.

INDONESIA COMMITTED TO DEEPEN, STRENGTHEN TIES WITH PACIFIC NATIONS by Fardah

   Jakarta, June 20,  2014 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, during the first ever visit by Indonesian presidents to Fiji and the South Pacific region, expressed his commitment to deepening and strengthening relations with countries in the region.

        He paid a working visit to Fiji from June 17 to 19, 2014, and attended the Second Summit of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) as chief guest at the invitation of the Fijian government.
   Indonesia has established diplomatic relations with almost all Pacific Island countries, based on equality, mutual respect for each other's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.