we want to open a new one in Makassar, the gateway to eastern part of Indonesia and the largest cocoa production centerMakassar, South Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - The Embassy of Switzerland is ready to open a consulate office in Makassar for its working area in Sulawesi and Maluku, according to Swiss Ambassador to Indonesia Heinz Walker Nederkoorn.
"We will open the consulate office in Makassar on June 2, 2014 to strengthen our relation in trade and tourism, particularly in the areas of Sulawesi and Maluku," Nederkoorn said here on Sunday evening.
He noted that Makassar is the proper city for Swiss consulate office because it is the gateway to eastern Indonesia and the center of largest cocoa production in Indonesia.
According to him, it was reasonable to open the consulate office in Makassar because of already existing cooperation between Switzerland and Indonesia in the field of trade and tourism.
"We have just had a consulate office in Bali, and therefore we want to open a new one in Makassar, the gateway to eastern part of Indonesia and the largest cocoa production center," the Swiss envoy said.
He added that with the consulate office in Makassar, all administrations related to trade and tourism could be done there rather than in Jakarta.
"Following the opening of consulate office in Makassar, the relations between Switzerland and the areas in eastern part of Indonesia will getting stronger," he said.
Switzerland has been represented since 1952 in Indonesia, where it has above all been engaged in development cooperation with the volume of trade between the two countries has recently taken a positive turn.
Swiss emigration to Indonesia began in the 17th century, then a Swiss consulate was opened in Batavia (now Jakarta) in 1863, followed by a second in Medan,North Sumatra.
In the 1990s Indonesia, and especially Bali, became a favorite holiday destination for Swiss tourists.
Indonesia has been one of the seven priority countries for economic development cooperation, since 2008, a programme operated by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
At the end of November 2009 a joint Economic and Trade Commission was created in the framework of Switzerlands economic policy for Indonesia.
The economic development programme of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) for 2009-2012 supported Indonesias efforts to reform the public sector, the economy and environmental protection.
(O001/F001)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
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