South Pacific Countries Appreciate Indonesia’s Increasing Role in Region

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Children are given polio vaccines at the emergency response main post in Sentani, Papua, on Tuesday (19/3/2019). Polio vaccines are being provided to prevent the spread of the polio virus, which is currently spreading in Papua New Guinea. Polio vaccines are especially given to children who have not been vaccinated.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — As Indonesia intensifies its presence in the South Pacific, support from countries in the region is growing. This can be seen in the praises for Indonesia from New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.On the sidelines of the Indonesia-South Pacific Forum (ISPF) in Jakarta on Thursday (21/3/2019), Papua New Guinean Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato said that Indonesia paid attention deeply to the Pacific. “Indonesia is our neighbor and good friend that pays deep attention to the Pacific. Papua New Guinea appreciates this,” Pato said.

He said that Indonesia’s initiative to hold the forum, which was attended by 15 countries and two territories in the South Pacific, was important. The forum will be a good place to establish a format of regional cooperation.

Pato also praised Indonesia’s diversity and democracy. He said he hoped Indonesia would be able to spread the values in the South Pacific. Countries in the region can learn from Indonesia as a maritime nation with a modernized and dynamic economy.

“Through establishing a relationship based on peace and friendship between Indonesia and the South Pacific, I believe that there will be strategic benefits in this positive approach,” Pato said.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said that he appreciated Indonesia’s increasing role, both in the South Pacific and globally. Indonesia’s pledge shows the importance of cooperation for the sake of collective welfare.

Diplomacy

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that Indonesia would continue to push for international cooperation based on mutual respect. In the forum, which was held for the first time this year, Indonesia and its South Pacific partners will have a medium for dialogue that strengthens cooperation in trade, development, technical skills and capacity development and reducing obstacles in trade and investment.

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

Yansen teaches grade 1 students at SD YPPK St. Agustinus Elementary School in Manasari, Mimika Timur Jauh district, Mimika regency, Papua, on Monday (04/03/2019). There are still many children in Papua who cannot get an education because they have to follow their parents to work.

The forum is also expected to boost mutual understanding between archipelagic countries in the region. Issues on focus include maritime affairs, coastal development and climate change.Retno said that the ISPF helped strengthen friendships and cooperation between Indonesia and South Pacific countries. The forum also expands the brotherhood of both sides and marked the beginning of a new era of cooperation between Indonesia and the South Pacific.

The ISPF is a new forum initiated by Indonesia. There are already two South Pacific forums that Indonesia is a member of, namely the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) established in 1983 and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) established in 1971.

In the last five years, Indonesia has been increasing its diplomacy efforts in the South Pacific. After the ISPF, Indonesia will hold the Pacific Exposition in New Zealand in July. In the event, representatives of business and cultural communities from Indonesia and South Pacific will be able to meet with each other.

Retno said that Indonesia saw the ISPF as an opportunity to explore new and future potentials. Apart from government representatives, the forum is also attended by business representatives from ISPF member countries.

Partnership potential

Foreign Ministry director general of Asia Pacific and African Affairs Desra Percaya said that the ISPF was proof that Indonesia paid attention to all global regions in its international diplomacy. He said that Indonesia’s increased role in the South Pacific was part of President Joko Widodo’s effort to prioritize economic diplomacy and the opening of new, even if small, markets.

Through the ISPF, business communities in Indonesia and the South Pacific can seek opportunities with one another. Indonesia provides funding assistance to support business activities.

The mechanism can be used by South Pacific business communities to develop business with Indonesia. The country also offers infrastructure cooperation.

“Regional welfare depends on cooperation. Indonesia and the South Pacific will continue to increase their partnerships,” Desra said.

He said that Indonesia and the South Pacific also had shared interests in the environment and maritime affairs.

Archipelagic countries in the South Pacific are deeply concerned about climate change. The phenomenon may lead to rising sea levels and reduce their limited land areas.

Increasing sea temperatures will also threaten food and income sources of people in the South Pacific. (RAZ/*/JOS)