They see Indonesia and Belarus can complement to each other in the business sector as the former is rich in natural resources or raw materials which are needed by the latter which has high technology needed by the former.
Led by Director General of American and European Affairs of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dian Triansyah Djani, the Indonesian delegation was in Belarus' capital of Minsk for the two countries' Joint Commission Meeting where they could make new initiatives in an effort to maintain their already good economic cooperation.
Not only did the director general bring businesspersons to Minsk, he was also accompanied by a journalist of a news agency which was then scheduled to sign a memorandum of cooperation with Belarus' news agency in the hope reports on every progress made by Indonesia and Belarus especially on their economic ties would come to the notice of the two countries' peoples.
Dian Triansyah Djani said Indonesia and Belarus have a great opportunity to enhance cooperation in the field of economy as the two countries have their own superior advantages which are complementary to each other.
"Indonesia has resources to meet the needs of the domestic industry of Belarus, while the Eastern European country, whose population is about 10 million people, has high technology which is needed by Indonesia to develop its economic sector," Djani added.
Indonesia, among others, can increase its export of rubber to Belarus where it can be used to produce tires for the dump trucks used in mining industries in Indonesia, Djani said.
In view of that "I have brought along with me a number of businessmen mainly from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to Belarus to meet with the business players here to explore possibilities for trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries," Djani said.
According to Djani, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only facilitates the meeting and opens the opportunities as well as encourages Indonesian businessmen to enhance cooperation in the field of trade and industry.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs opens the door for Indonesian entrepreneurs who wish to focus on developing cooperation in the field of strategic industries with their counterparts in Belarus such as in the production of heavy equipment and in defense system industries," Djani said.
So, with the arrival of the Indonesian delegation to Belarus it is expected there will be agreements made in the field of strategic industries which may be signed at the Joint Commission Meeting between the two countries.
The Indonesian delegation hoped the Belarus businessmen will invest in and open service centers, showrooms and guarantee the availability of spare parts for their industrial products in Indonesia.
Heavy equipment
Belarus leading heavy equipment company Belaz is among strategic companies including armament producing company Belspetsvneshtehnika visited by the Indonesian delegation to Belarus to explore possibilities of enhancing cooperation between the two countries' companies.
Belaz' Deputy General Director, Stanislav Yakubovich said Belaz is open for cooperation with any company including those from Indonesia. "Our heavy equipment products can be used in any country as we adjust the machines to the conditions including the weather of a country so that we make the best products for our consumers," kata Stanislav.
According to him, Belaz is also interested to set up constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation with Indonesian businesspersons. "We may further discuss the wish to cooperate after the fasting month," he said.
Belaz has so far produced a number of types of such heavy-duty vehicles as dumtrucks, construction and road building vehicles, vehicles for mine servicing works, under ground works and metallurgical plants.
Meanwhile, Djani pointed out that Indonesia has purchased 10 heavy vehicles from Belaz to be used in its mining industry and therefore he expects the company to open a service center in Indonesia.
Indonesia also wants to increase cooperation in the field related to industrial heavy equipment such as rubber for vehicle tires, Djani said.
"We believe that most of the rubber, which is used to make tires for large vehicles manufactured by Belaz, comes from Indonesia," he affirmed.
Rubber is one of the Indonesian commodities exported to Belarus in addition to electrical appliances, fishery, and agricultural products such as coffee and tea, while Indonesia imports heavy equipment, medicines, and agricultural tools, among others from the landlocked country.
Indonesia has invited businessmen from Belarus to the Business Exhibition in Indonesia in October 2015, hoping that the entrepreneurs of the two countries can share business information, Djani remarked.
"On this occasion, we along with several Indonesian businessmen mainly from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry aim to discuss opportunities to increase cooperation, especially in the field of economy and trade," he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Valentin Rybakov emphasized that he would push Belarus businessmen to be more active to ensure that the cooperation between the two countries is successful.
"To promote trade and investment relations between Indonesia and Belarus, direct relations between the businessmen of both countries are very important, as Indonesia is the axis for the ASEAN, and Belarus is the pivot for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)," he added.
The ASEAN comprises Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam and Myanmar, while the CIS includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine.
The diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Belarus have been established for 22 years since the signing of the Joint Communique Concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on June 18, 1993.
(B005/O001)
Reporter: Bambang Purwanto
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
