I

ndonesia and Germany have agreed to establish an advisory group to further strengthen economic and people-to-people relations between the two countries.

The team set up during the state visit of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to the country, will provide their respective governments with recommendations and initiatives on how to boost relationships in the area of people-to-people contacts and business, the Indonesian Ambassador to Germany, Eddy Pratomo said on Wednesday.

“This Advisory Group is part of our effort to make concrete the cooperation between Indonesia and Germany as framed in the Jakarta Declaration. Now we’re translating the cooperation framework into real action,” Eddy said.

The team comprises eminent persons from the private sector such as businessmen, technocrats and religious leaders. The advisory group is expected to explore cooperation opportunities for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

Commenting on the frequency of meeting between the leaders of Indonesia and Germany in the past few years, Eddy said that Indonesia-German relations were now in their honeymoon period. “We are back to the honeymoon period of former president Habibie’s administration. Germany needs to improve ties with Indonesia as the biggest country in ASEAN. And Indonesia also needs Germany as the biggest country in Europe. We share the same strategic interests.”

Indonesia enjoyed a close relationship with Germany in the past, when BJ Habibie was a cabinet minister, vice president and president.

President Yudhoyono has paid special attention to Indonesia’s relationship with Germany. He made a state visit to Germany in 2009 and 2013. German President Christian Wulff then visited Indonesia in December 2011, followed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2012.

Merkel’s visit to Jakarta in July 2012 was perceived as a sign that Indonesia-Germany relations were moving on the right direction. Marking the 60th anniversary of Indonesian-German diplomatic ties, the two governments signed a declaration entitled the Joint Declaration for Comprehensive Partnership: Shaping Globalization and Sharing Responsibility. The declaration included numerous points on bilateral cooperation including in the defence sector.

During President Yudhoyono’s state visit to Germany this week, the two leaders discussed the possibilities of further cooperation in the energy sector, water, solar power and transportation. “Germany has expertise in transportation management and we discussed the possibility of how they can help us to improve our transportation management,” Eddy said.

Yudhoyono also had the opportunity to join Merkel in officially opening the five-day ITB Berlin travel and tourism exhibition where Indonesia has been named as official partner country.

As official partner country, Indonesia had the privilege of hosting the opening ceremony of ITB Berlin on Tuesday evening. Indonesia also used the opportunity to show case the country’s new and established tourist destinations.

Indonesia brought a strong delegation to the ITB expo comprising 110 travel agencies, hotels, and provincial tourist offices, occupying more than 500 square meters with a total cost estimated to be Rp 20 billion (US$ 2 million).

“Indonesia is very honored and proud to be the official partner country for this year. I think this is a special event marking our relationship. Through the ITB event, Indonesia wants to bring a message that Indonesia is the World’s Heart of Wonders” Indonesia’s Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said.

Mari said that with the country’s participation in the ITB Berlin expo, the number of German tourists visiting Indonesia was expected to further increase.

Last year, the number of German tourists visiting Indonesia rose about 10 percent to 156,000 people. Mari’s office expects that this year the number of German tourists will reach 180,000.