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RI, Monaco forge ties through cultural diplomacy
Indonesian heritage: Oscar Lawalata (second right) explains about traditional woven clothes to Prince Albert of Monaco (right), accompanied by the Indonesian ambassador to France, Monaco, and Andorra, Hotmangaraja Panjaitan (left), and Oscar’s mother Reggy Lawalata (second left) at the Fairmont Hotel in Senayan, Jakarta recently
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Indonesian heritage: Oscar Lawalata (second right) explains about traditional woven clothes to Prince Albert of Monaco (right), accompanied by the Indonesian ambassador to France, Monaco, and Andorra, Hotmangaraja Panjaitan (left), and Oscar’s mother Reggy Lawalata (second left) at the Fairmont Hotel in Senayan, Jakarta recently. (JP/Primastuti Handayani)
Business jargon and statistics do not always guarantee a country’s success when inviting foreign investors. But music and fabrics may come in handy.
With a trade balance with Monaco that stood at US$579,100 in 2015, the Indonesian Embassy in France invited businesspeople in the small country to attend a gala dinner last Wednesday during which a Semarang-based orchestra performed and traditional clothes from the archipelago — a collection from designer Oscar Lawalata — were displayed.
Strong enthusiasm was felt when Surya Orchestra and Vocalia conductor Paulus Surya invited them to sing the lyrics “sing sing so” from a North Sumatra folk song of the same title. Three syllables in the same “do” tone echoed in the ballroom of the Fairmont hotel, sung by Monegasque businesspeople, and their usually formal demeanor turned relax.
The peak of the dinner was when the reigning monarch of Monaco, Prince Albert II, was invited to the stage and sang his favorite song, “Every Breathe You Take” by The Police.
“It is a concert of friendship, it is a concert for both Indonesia and Monaco,” said Paulus, who performed before the prince for the second time. The first time was two years ago in Batam, Riau Islands, during the prince’s private visit.
Indonesian Ambassador to France, Monaco and Andorra Hotmangaradja Pandjaitan expressed his satisfaction with the maiden event.
“Our main purpose is to increase the two countries’ trade balance. We have also introduced 10 new tourist destinations in Indonesia as part of our efforts to increase the number of tourists from Monaco,” he said.
Indonesia’s trade balance with Monaco has been sliding, from $2.8 million in 2011 to only $579,100 last year, according to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and Trade Ministry.
Indonesia officially formed diplomatic ties with Monaco in 2006, Pandjaitan said, but ties have merely focused on politics and issues such as climate change and renewable energy.
“There are a lot of potentials from Monaco businesses that we can explore. So far, they have invested in Bali by building villas but there are still other opportunities,” he said.
The attendance of Prince Albert II — who surprisingly welcomed the invitation sent at relatively short notice — was a positive gesture in endorsing investment in Indonesia.
“Usually, the Monaco palace needs at least six months to a year in advanced to confirm the prince’s attendance. But the prince welcomed us even though we sent the invitation two months ago,” said the ambassador.
Since his arrival, Prince Albert II – whose favorite destination in Indonesia, among others, is Raja Ampat, a world famous diving spot — expressed interest in Indonesia. He asked Oscar to explain the origin of the displayed traditional clothes and the meaning of the motifs.
The prince wore Flores woven fabrics — designed by Oscar — for the dinner.
“The prince’s outfit used the original pattern from woven Flores clothes,” Oscar said.
Indonesia had expected to see only 15 businesses at a business forum held the next day, but nearly 40 showed up.
“The London office of the Investment Coordinating Board [BKPM] offered the three-hour one-stop service for business permits and investment facilities during the business forum,” Pandjaitan said.
“Businesspeople from banking, hotels, restaurants, health care and investment are studying the possibility of investing in Indonesia.
“We will hold another business forum in July here as a follow up and hopefully, the second forum will see more concrete action,” he said.
“They [businesspeople] were enthusiastic because no country has offered them a chance to invest like Indonesia has,” he added.
Although Monaco is only 2.02 square kilometers, the city-state has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $3 billion, with an economy geared toward finance, commerce and tourism. Therefore, Indonesia hopes to increase its trade balance and attract investors from the country.
Monaco shares the same hope, evident in Prince Albert II’s words in the embassy’s golden book, “ a stronger friendship and harmony” between the two nations.
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