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Philippines, RI to boost trade, investment
Getting together: Philippines Ambassador to Indonesia Lee Hiong Wee (second left) is flanked by Philippines Women’s Association adviser Thelma Victorio (left), Philippines Business Club in Indonesia vice president Rudy Balmater and Filcomin Golf Association president Riche Tiblani after a press conference in Jakarta on Friday to punt a charity golf tournament scheduled for Sunday
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etting together: Philippines Ambassador to Indonesia Lee Hiong Wee (second left) is flanked by Philippines Women’s Association adviser Thelma Victorio (left), Philippines Business Club in Indonesia vice president Rudy Balmater and Filcomin Golf Association president Riche Tiblani after a press conference in Jakarta on Friday to punt a charity golf tournament scheduled for Sunday.(Courtesy of the Filcomin)
The Philippines is increasing its investment in and trade with Indonesia while several Indonesian companies have also entered the Philippine market as both countries prepare to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2019.
Manila’s envoy to Jakarta Lee Hiong Wee said on Friday the Philippines had invested some US$8 million in Indonesia in 2017, representing an increase of 22 percent from 2016.
Speaking at a press conference about a planned charity golf tournament, Lee added that trade between the two countries amounted to $7.5 million and would continue to increase.
Among the projects being carried out to enhance bilateral economic cooperation are ferry routes linking the southern Philippine cities of Davao and General Santos to Bitung, North Sulawesi.
The envoy, who admits to loving Indonesian dishes nasi goreng and rendang, expects the ferry routes to help accelerate progress in eastern Indonesia and that both countries were also trying to involve local shipping firms in the ferry project.
Philippine companies are also investing in Indonesia in the energy and geothermal sectors, while a fast-food restaurant brand will enter Indonesia in 2019, Lee said.
On the other hand, Indonesian companies that have already entered the Philippine market include textile manufacturer PT Sri Rejeki Isman under the brand Sritex, jamu (herbal drink) maker PT Industri Jamu dan Farmasi Sido Muncul through one of its products Tolak Angin, and retailer PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya, which operates as Alfamart.
Meanwhile, the Filipino Community in Indonesia (Filcomin) will hold the charity golf tournament on Sunday at the National Golf Club in Senayan, South Jakarta, to support education in Indonesia and students in the southern Philippines town of Marawi, which was recently liberated from occupation by militants pledging allegiance to the Islamic State movement.
“The tournament will be followed by the annual fellowship night for the Filipino community in Indonesia,” said Riche Tiblani, president of the Filcomin Golf Association.
“We have helped public schools in Indonesia from proceeds from the event through the Indonesia-Filipino Friendship Libraries.”
Tiblani said Filcomin expected the tournament would strengthen relations between the Filipino community and
Indonesians.
The event is also supported by the Philippine Embassy in Indonesia, the ASEAN Secretariat and Rotary Club Indonesia.
The guests of honor in the event include Lee, the Philippines Deputy Permanent Resident to ASEAN Noel Novicio, and the Philippines Business Club in Indonesia (PBCI) vice president Rudy Balmater, who is also a past district governor of Rotary Club Indonesia.
— The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post
