French envoy seeks enhanced ties with RI

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 07/02/2007 10:37 AM

Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

She is an expert on African affairs at the French Foreign Ministry. But last year she opted for Indonesia, the home to world's biggest Muslim population. Why?

""I was associated with Africa for 15 years. After that experience, I wanted something else. That's why I applied for Jakarta and I got it"" French Ambassador Catherine Boivineau, who submitted her credentials to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Jan. 30, 2007, told The Jakarta Post recently.

Ambassador Boivineau's interest in Indonesia was spawned by her interactions with ethnic Indonesians in Madagascar.

""I was curious to know more about Indonesia and its people,"" Boivineau said.

""In the beginning, I wanted to become a scientist. (But) I found it was not suitable for me. Instead I studied English and joined the institute for political science.

""I had the chance of working as an intern at the Foreign Ministry for two months. Then I decided to join the foreign service,"" she said.

Since joining the foreign service in 1970, Boivineau has worked at the United Nations in New York, as well as in locations including Thailand, Australia and Britain on French diplomatic missions. In 1994, she was appointed as French Ambassador to Benin and later to Madagascar (2002-2005).

Boivineau is a great lover of her profession.

""I never regretted it (joining the diplomatic service). I have always been very happy. All the countries where I've served have been fascinating,"" said Boivineau.

Boivineau said her diplomatic service has been tough on her family life. As a mother of two boys, balancing work and family has required some sacrifices.

""In my case, my career comes first. My young sons used to ask me, 'why don't you ever come to meet us at the end of school?' But when they grow up, they'll be proud of what I have done,"" she said.

Boivineau dismissed suggestions that her position as a woman diplomat came in the way of her work.

""I have a feeling, to be honest, (it's) not really (a problem),"" she said.

She said things had changed since the diplomatic gatherings she attended during the early stages of her career.

""I was the only woman at those functions. But it didn't make any difference. Now it's changing. More and more women are joining the foreign service,"" she said.

Boivineau said 25 percent of the French foreign service staff today were women. France currently has 19 female ambassadors at its 170 diplomatic missions around the world.

At the age of 63, Boivineau still feels young and still plays tennis regularly.

""I love tennis. I've been playing tennis here in Cilandak with an Indonesian lady. My other hobby is to read books. I do like walking,"" Boivineau said.

Boivineau said she believed the bilateral relationship between Australia and Indonesia was good, but could be further advanced.

""The relationship lacks substance at present. For example, we haven't had any visits by a head of state for the last 20 years. I have to work on this,"" Boivineau said.

On the economic front, France is doing well in Indonesia. Bilateral trade has undergone steady growth, with scores of top French companies already having a presence in Indonesia.

""Our bilateral trade was around US$1.7 billion in 2006. But this can be improved further,"" Boivineau said.

Indonesia exported $720.40 million worth of goods to France in 2006. Indonesia imported $949.91 million in the same year, leaving the balance of trade in France's favor (see table).

Based on the Indonesian Central Statistics Agency (BPS), France is Indonesia's sixth-biggest trading partner of the 27 nations of the European Union (EU). Indonesia's biggest trading partner from the EU is Germany, with $3.48 billion in trade in 2006.

Boivineau said she wanted to strengthen the existing bilateral relationship on all level levels.

""We have to develop a political dialog between the two countries. We feel that we have a lot in common with Indonesia and vice versa. So we really want to develop the relationship in the political sector,"" Boivineau said.

Boivineau said there was a lot both countries could do to improve the economic relationship.

""We can do much better. Much more in nuclear energy, oil and gas, infrastructure and telecommunications,"" Boivineau said.

Indonesia wants to build a nuclear power plant in 2010. France's leading nuclear energy company Areva, which has plants in China, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil and Mexico, has been keen to get in on the project.

""French companies want to invest more in Indonesia. They are interested in transferring technology to Indonesians,"" Boivineau said.

Boivineau also said France wanted to update the existing agreement on the promotion and protection of investment. The present agreement was signed in 1973.

France's interest in Indonesia is not only in a country that has the biggest Muslim population on earth. The country's rich natural resources and market of 240 million people are also strong drawing cards.

Boivineau said both countries had to first build a framework in order to have a strategic partnership in the future.

""In order to provide more substance to the present relationship, we can start with dialog at all levels, be it at the senior official or the ministerial level. Then we can build a framework,"" she said.

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