Shiojiri focuses on economy

Lilian Budianto , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 06/13/2008 10:04 AM | World

The new Japanese ambassador to Indonesia said developing economic ties with Indonesia would remain the focus of the 50-year-old bilateral relationship between the two countries.

In a media conference at the embassy on Wednesday, Kojiro Shiojiri told reporters that Indonesia had played a very important role in the economic growth of Japan, and that his country was seeking to improve cooperation through the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

The EPA, which will come into effect on July 1 this year, is a comprehensive agreement involving cooperative developments in several sectors including trade, energy and mining, and in intellectual property rights.

According to the Trade Ministry, last year bilateral trade reached US$30.15 billion, up 10.69 percent from $27.24 billion a year earlier. This increase was supported by high oil, gas and commodity prices.

The ambassador said although EPA would come into force amid the looming global crisis triggered by the rising price of oil, he hoped this would not impact economic cooperation between the two countries -- which had "huge economic potential".

"There will always be crises in life, but we will grow stronger once we get through them. The world economy will be much tougher afterwards," said Shiojiri, who previously served as a deputy for the vice minister at the Foreign Ministry.

Shiojiri, who arrived in Jakarta three weeks ago, submitted credentials to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday at Merdeka Palace, together with the ambassadors of Lebanon, Nigeria, India and the United Kingdom.

Shiojiri said he was highly impressed with the young people in Indonesia, describing them as a very spirited generation.

"I have planned to visit a primary school near my residence and talk to students directly. I want to get in touch and establish relationships with local people," Shiojiri said.