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lovakia and Indonesia are optimistic that they can boost bilateral trade and cooperation amid the current global economic slowdown caused by the eurozone debt crisis.

Visiting Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic said that Slovakia, a country at the heart of Europe with an income per capita of about US$15,000, could provide an entry point to European markets for Indonesia, which he described as one of the global economic growth engines.

“The continuation of the cooperation between the two countries should continue in a more and more tough international competition,” Gasparovic told the 5th Indonesia-Slovakia Business Forum on Tuesday.

He said that European member countries would be able to overcome the debt crisis in the eurozone, which Slovakia joined in 2009.

“The current concern and fear about the survival of the euro countries is unfounded. Slovakia continues to be optimistic that the euro is beneficial for the good of the country,” he said through his interpreter.

Gasparovic said that being located in the middle of Europe, Slovakia was a main gateway to the European market.

Indonesian Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said that the debt crisis in Europe, which could influence global economic growth, would not hamper the two countries’ efforts to deepen cooperation and boost trade.

“In a crisis, there is always an opportunity for us to be creative in developing our business. That’s what both countries see. We shall not stop maintaining our growth momentum. Don’t be a pessimistic country in facing turbulence,” Hatta told reporters after the forum.

“We cannot stop developing our market simply because there is turbulence in Europe.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Ambassador to Bratislava Harsha E. Joesoef said he hoped that the European debt crisis would not affect the growth of trade between the two countries.

He cited that two-way trade between the countries had doubled in the last three years.

“In 2007 the two-way trade reached about $35 million, it declined to around $30 million in 2008. The trade value then increased to $60 million in 2009 and $84 million in 2010,” Harsha told journalists at a discussion after the forum, adding that the figures did not show the full potential of both countries.

“I hope there will be more trade activities. I’m sure that the global crisis can be faced and that the trade figure between Indonesia and Slovakia continues to show a positive trend.”

At the business forum, Indonesia and Slovakia signed 15 agreements which are hoped to prompt more business exchanges. Four are government-to-government deals: the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) on capacity building, public radio RRI and Slovak Radio and Television, University of Andalas and OSIVO of Agriculture University (SPU) NITRA on exchange of personnel in wheat projects, the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten) and Slovak nuclear regulatory authority UJD on the exchange of technical information and cooperation in nuclear safety.

The other 11 agreements, worth up to $1 billion, are between Bank BNI and Slovak Eximbanka,
PT Indonesian Eximbank and Slovak Eximbanka, PT Pindad with Slovak Security and Defense
Industry ZBOP on system development, PT Laya’tiyanna Ichsan and Istroenergo Group on a power plant project, Henry company and Instroenergo Group on a power plant project, PT Sugico and Hornonitrianske Bane Prievidza on coal mining development, PT Surya Kirana Duta Mas and Konstrukta Industry on a tire factory project in Tangerang, PT Surya Kirana Duta Mas and Pio Keramoprojekt on a cement factory in Central Java, Galenium Pharmacy and Sicorp Slovakia on the drug industry, Tri Agri and Compel Industries on CPO exports to Central and East Europe, and Lippo Group and Pio Keramoprojekt on a cement factory in West Papua. (rcf)