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RI-Austria to further investment, people ties
Friendly relations: The Foreign Ministryâs director-general for American and European affairs, Dian Triansyah Djani (left), shares a light moment with Austrian Ambassador to Indonesia Andreas Karabaczek at a reception celebrating the national day of the Republic of Austria at Hotel Indonesia Kempinski in Jakarta on Monday
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span class="inline inline-center">Friendly relations: The Foreign Ministry's director-general for American and European affairs, Dian Triansyah Djani (left), shares a light moment with Austrian Ambassador to Indonesia Andreas Karabaczek at a reception celebrating the national day of the Republic of Austria at Hotel Indonesia Kempinski in Jakarta on Monday. Both countries established diplomatic ties 60 years ago. JP/DON
In celebration of 60 years of Indonesian-Austrian diplomatic relations, the two countries have committed to improving bilateral relations in business, science and infrastructure development, as well as people-to-people relations.
Austrian Ambassador to Indonesia Andreas Karbaczek praised the 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, symbolizing Austria's commitment to assisting Indonesia's development.
'Scientific cooperation continues to flourish between the two countries, as well as political and business terms. We have enjoyed yet another excellent year of relations and we would continue to do so in the future,' Karbaczek said as he addressed the crowd at a celebration for Austria's national day at the Kempinski Hotel in Central Jakarta on Monday.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the Austrian diaspora in maintaining good relations between the two countries, emphasizing that the people-to-people element is among the most effective modes of maintaining relations.
The Foreign Ministry's director-general for American and European affairs, Dian Triansyah Djani, said that Indonesia would maintain good relations with Austria, as well as with other countries during Jokowi's presidency.
A special focus would be placed on boosting investment and people-to-people relations with Austria, Dian said.
'We currently have 19 active investment projects with Austria as well as an annual trade growth of 18 percent a year. Austria has shown itself to be an important friend and partner to Indonesia,' he told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
In commemoration of 60 years of relations, the Indonesian Embassy in Vienna has held cultural activities, signifying people-to-people contacts.
The Republic of Austria celebrated its 59th National Day, referred to as the Declaration of Neutrality Day, on Oct. 26. The public holiday was enacted in 1955, commemorating the day that Austria declared itself to be permanently neutral in terms of its constitution and in international law.
Despite the neutrality, Austria participates in occasional United Nations peacekeeping and humanitarian missions such as the Kosovo Force, the European Union Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
Indonesian-Austrian relations were formally established in 1954, a year before Austria became free from post-World War II occupation by the Allied countries.
By the end of 2013, Indonesia's total trade figures to Austria reached US$433 million, with a growth rate of 8.54 percent since 2009. Total trade reached $229 million in the first half of 2014, which was a 12.47 percent decrease in trade numbers from the same period in 2013.
Indonesia and Austria signed a joint cooperation agreement on transportation infrastructure development in May, involving planning and redesigning Indonesia's transport infrastructure and assisting in technological research. (dyl)
