On this auspicious occasion, I would like to extend my greetings to my fellow Indonesians in Saudi Arabia and express my sincere appreciation to the government and the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
InshaAllah, on Aug. 17, we will commemorate the Indonesian nation’s 64th independence proclamation. On such a historic occasion, let us collectively pay the highest tribute to our freedom fighters and heroes, as well as to our founding fathers. We owe them for their services and sacrifices. We should preserve our sovereignty and unity as a nation, and work hard together to materialize the ideals of the independence proclamation.
During the past 11 years in the wake of the reformation, the Indonesian nation has undergone one of the most transformational eras in the modern Indonesian history. We know that only a handful of nations in the world have encountered repeated storms and upheavals as we have experienced. And only a small number of them were able to withstand, in fact, even reawakened stronger as a result of these historic tribulations.
From its dismal condition 11 years ago, Indonesia has transformed today as a dynamic nation. We have recovered from the monetary crisis that had crippled Indonesia in the past. We have carried out a comprehensive reformation covering various sectors. We have succeeded in going through the transitional period of democracy that has now made Indonesia the third largest democracy in the world.
We have also managed to develop a new democratic political culture that carries forward transparency, freedom of expression and accountability to the people, whereby the law is now supreme. We have also succeeded during these last few years to consolidate the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia: a peaceful Aceh, a stable Papua, and restful Moluccas, Poso, Sampit. We have successfully overcome the most devastating natural disaster the world has ever known, namely the 2004 tsunami tragedy, inspired by solidarity and mutual help. We have reinstated Indonesia in the forefront of the regional and international arenas. This has not been the achievement of one single individual or group, but the achievement and hard work of the whole of the Indonesian people.
With all the fundamental changes that have already occurred, we continue to preserve our nation’s identity, as reflected in the four pillars, namely: Pancasila (Five Tenets), the 1945 Constitution, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. Regardless of what is happening, we must strictly hold on to these four pillars as the primary basis of our life as nation and state.
However, despite all this, our nation continues to be impacted by a number of serious trials. We neither have the reason, nor the time, to lament and stand idly. We must not be carried away by the culture of unabated cynicism and self-doubt. Above all, we must not be negligent to see the changing times.
We have to change the mentality of resignation into the spirit of opportunity-seeking orientation. I am firmly confident that in every problem, in every crisis, regardless of its magnitude, there are always seeds of opportunity and there is always a way out. Rest assured, the problems we are encountering today are also confronting other nations. History will only differentiate between those who merely lament about their fate and those who never surrender in seeking solutions.
In April and July 2009, Alhamdulillah, we have successfully undergone the third Legislative General Election in the reformation era, as well as the second direct presidential election in the history of our democracy, in a safe, orderly and peaceful manner.
By the end of October 2009, Indonesia will inaugurate its new president and vice president, as well as its Legislative members. Then, within a certain period of time, the newly elected president is also expected to establish his new Cabinet ministers.
With these successful achievements, I would like to convey my sincere gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to my fellow Indonesians throughout Saudi Arabia who participated in casting their votes during the elections and also to the government of Saudi Arabia for ensuring the safety and security of the elections. With the blessings of the God Almighty, the new government will bring us a new spirit, a new strength, and a new vision that would enable Indonesia to surpass any kind of challenges and transformations in its journey to achieve its main goals, to establish a just and prosperous Indonesia.
Indonesia will not forget the support extended by Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries during the days of the Indonesian struggle for independence. At that time, the Arab nations and other anti-colonial countries in the world were so supportive in exerting relentless pressure to the Dutch colonial administration in various international fora until eventually Indonesia successfully proclaimed its independence on Aug. 17, 1945.
Indonesia established diplomatic relations with the Kingdom in 1948. At that time, an Indonesian diplomatic mission was opened in Jeddah. Later on, in 1985, Indonesia opened an Embassy in Riyadh and also a Consulate General in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia opened its representative office in 1950 and then officially established its embassy in Jakarta in 1955. Since then, relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have remained strong, cordial and robust up to the present time.
This progressively growing relationship has been marked by strong religious, cultural and political ties over the years. The Kingdom and Indonesia have had a mutual understanding and similar approaches on a whole range of bilateral and international issues and the two countries have always been keen to enhance and strengthen relations in the fields of economy, trade and investment, energy and manpower sectors.
Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have already established a Joint Commission Meeting, which functioned as a bilateral forum, to discuss various kinds of issues related to the latest developments between the two countries on economic, trade, investment, energy, socio-cultural and manpower sectors. On Aug. 30-31 2008, delegations from the two countries at the 8th session of the Joint Commission agreed to further enhance cooperation in manpower, protection of the rights of migrant workers, economic and trade, implementation of Haj and Umrah, endowments and waqf, immigration, health care, tourism, aviation, and energy sectors.
In the field of commerce and trade, the total value of Indonesian exports to Saudi Arabia increased significantly from $672,07 million in 2006 to $944,24 million in 2007, and reached up to $1,19 billion in 2008. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia’s total export to Indonesia was to the tune of $3,384 billion in 2006, $3,372 billion in 2007 and $4,804 billion in 2008. The main Indonesian exports to Saudi Arabia among others are vehicles, automotive spare parts, coconut oil, tires, textile and textile products, electronics, papers, wood and wood products, tuna fish, home appliances and electrical products. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia’s main exports to Indonesia are crude oil, petroleum oil, unsaturated ethylene, ethylene glycol, polypropylene in granules, unsaturated prophene, other liquefied petroleum gases, sulfur of all kinds other than sublimed sulfur, and kerosene.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia is also one of the leading investors in Indonesia with an estimated investment of $7.594 million for the last three years. Most of Saudi investments are in the fertilizer industry, refinery industry, oil processing, real estate and trade representative offices. The two sides have been pushing for the establishment of at least three joint ventures between Saudi Arabian and Indonesian businessmen that will mainly focus on garment manufacturing and food processing.
In the field of manpower, the Kingdom, at present, is the home to over 700,000 Indonesian workers. Most of them are women employees who work in informal sectors.
In socio-cultural and education fields, Saudi Arabia has already established an Institute of Islamic and Arab Sciences (LIPIA) in Jakarta, while Indonesia has established its schools for Indonesian students in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Makkah. At the moment, there are 237 Indonesian students in King Saud University (KSU)-Riyadh, Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University (IMSIU)-Riyadh, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM)-Dhahran, Umm Al-Qura University (UQU)-Makkah, and Islamic University of Madinah (IUM)-Madinah.
In the tourism sector, around 40,000 Saudi tourists visit Indonesia annually for business purposes and holiday, and on the other hand, more than 250,000 Indonesians visit the Kingdom to perform Haj and Umrah every year.
Relationship between the two countries have flourished and with the blessing of Allah these ties will grow even stronger in the future.
The progress of this nation rests in our hands. If we are all united, hand in hand, side by side through trials and tribulations in building the nation, no mountain is too high to climb, no valley is too deep to pass through and no ocean is too vast to cross.
InshaAllah, in the 21st century, Indonesia will emerge as one of the advanced and dignified countries in the world. May Allah bestow His blessings upon all of us. Let us encourage all components of the nation, hand-in-hand, to reinforce the unity, togetherness and hard work in order to build a great, advanced, and glorious State of the Republic of Indonesia.
Long live the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
Dr. Salim Segaf Al Jufrie, MA
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
The Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and accredited to the Sultanate of Oman