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S'pore, RI agree 'to continue good ties'
Warm fuzzies: Singaporeâs Ambassador to Indonesia Anil Kumar Nayar (right) and the countryâs defense attaché Col
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span class="inline inline-center">Warm fuzzies: Singapore's Ambassador to Indonesia Anil Kumar Nayar (right) and the country's defense attaché Col. Lawrence Teh (left) welcome Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Moeldoko as he arrives at the reception of Singapore's 49th National Day at the Ritz Carlton, Jakarta, on Monday. JP/Jerry Adiguna
Singapore and Indonesia agreed to continue 'excellent bilateral relations' and called for further improvement in various sectors.
Singaporean Ambassador to Indonesia Anil Kumar Nayar said the two countries already had excellent bilateral relations that should be kept and improved upon by increasing bilateral cooperation for mutual benefit.
He also called on leaders of both countries to increase the frequency of interaction, both at the national and regional levels. For example, Singapore President Tony Tan visited Batam in June to meet his counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
'Singapore will continue to share and exchange with Indonesia what we have learned and experienced in many fields, from urban planning to waste and water management,' he said when addressing a ceremony to celebrate Singaporean National Day in Jakarta.
Nayar said that increasing interaction was a powerful way to strengthen economic ties. In 2013, Singapore ranked one of Indonesia's top investors with US$4.7 billion worth of investment in various sectors, ranging from infrastructure development to services. Such a high amount of investment proved that Singapore businesses had confidence in Indonesia, he said.
He added that Singapore's total realized investment in Indonesia accounted for 23.8 percent of all realized foreign direct investment here in the first half of the year. Trade ties were also strong because they stood at $74.8 billion. The figure placed Indonesia as Singapore's fourth-largest trading partner.
Meanwhile, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said she agreed with what Nayar proposed about increasing interaction between officials of the two countries.
'Increasing interaction between us could boost our trade and investment ties,' she said. 'Trade and investment between the two countries are good. I hope they will be better in future.'
She said that in tourism, the number of Singaporeans visiting Indonesia tended to increase while Indonesians always placed Singapore as one of their main destinations for vacations.
'Our relations are getting stronger day by day. I believe that such a trend will continue,' she said.
Indonesia and Singapore officially opened diplomatic ties in 1966, a year after Singapore declared its independence on Aug. 9, 1965, after breaking away from Malaysia.
Previously, Singapore gained independence from the United Kingdom on Aug. 31, 1963 and joined Malaysia as a state.
Several noted public figures attended Monday's event, such as Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Thajaja Purnama, Miss Indonesia Wulandhari Herman, political scientist Ikrar Nusa Bakti and The Jakarta Post senior editor Sabam Siagian.
During the celebration, visitors enjoyed various foods representing the ethnic groups in Singapore, such as pickled cucumber from India, yam dumpling from China and Peranakan bakkuteh pork rib soup. (alz)
