Page 30 - Inzist Special Edition

BIG

BANGS

In 2018, President Jokowi briefed us - almost all Indonesia’s Ambassadors worldwide. He boldly described what a successful diplomacy is.
He stated as saying “Diplomacy is deemed successful when the flow of goods and services (export) including inbound investment is in
rapid pace”. Although it may seem basic, however its ramifications is humongous that impacted the overall acvitities at the embassy.

The crusade is hugely challenged by that facts that New Zealand is considered as a small economy with over 5 million people. A trading
country, whose economy depends on international trade with numerous trading agreements with trading partners. This subsequently
means that it is an open market with stiff product penetration. Inspite of these challenges, a few silver linings are the nature of trade
between Indonesia and New Zealand is somewhat complementary. It means that New Zealand produces primary goods whilst Indonesia
produces manufactured goods. As far as trade is concerned, the ASEAN Australia New Zealand Free Trade Agreements (AANZ FTA) had a
significant contributions to our conquest in achieveing trade targets.

There were notably a number of monumental achievements during my five-year tenure, I name them “The Big Bangs”.

Most of the the public in Indonesia– people on the street, tukang bakso, tukang becak (vendors), emak-emak (elderly women) etc. have
always believed that Indonesia is part of Asia and the Pacific is simply their immidiate neighbour. This oblivious misconception should not
be soberly and consistently ignored since Indonesia is inherently part of Pacific due to its geographical and demographical realities.

To embrace and engage with our brothers in the Pacific, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi initiated the Pacific Elevation. It is an initiative
which strengtened Indonesia and the Pacific, a new era of Indonesia’s diplomacy to the Pacific which objective is will solely to prosper its
peoples. Under the umbrella of Pacific Elevation Indonesia is committed to helping its brothers in the Pacific through capacity buildings,
increasing its role and providing market access. Indonesia’s Pacific Elevation initiatives is meant to compliment with other earlier
commitments introduced by major economies i.e. Pacific Step-Up (Australia), Pacific Reset, Belt and Road Iniviatives etc.