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Optimizing the results of Indonesia's trade negotiations
A merchant mindset might seem contradictory to the overall purpose of diplomacy, but imbuing diplomats with mercantile perspectives and capabilities could be highly effective in boosting Indonesia's position in international trade negotiations and what the country gets out of them.
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New deal: Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto (right), chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Arsjad Rasjid (second right), Premier of Western Australia Roger Cook (second left) and Indonesian ambassador to Australia Siswo Pramono display documents of a memorandum of understanding on an action plan to implement cooperation between Kadin and the Australian state. The documents were signed on July 4 in Sydney. (Handout/Office of Coordinating Economic Minister)
I
have high respect for Pak (Mr.) Kornelius Purba, a senior journalist with abundant experience. He has a deep understanding of the nation and its institutions. I just happen to have the knowledge and experience to look at the issue from a different perspective, but for the same purpose.
In his article “Expanding the Foreign Ministry as Jokowi had in mind four years ago” (July 24, 2023, The Jakarta Post) Pak Kornelius strongly proposes merging part of the Trade Ministry into the Foreign Ministry, particularly the department responsible for negotiating international trade deals. The reason he gives is that the promotion and protection of Indonesian international trade and investment have not been effective.
According to Pak Kornelius, this view is strongly shared by some senior and mid-level diplomats at the Foreign Ministry.
His hypothesis is that the government will be more effective in promoting Indonesian trade and investment, as well as in protecting the country’s trade interests, if diplomats at the Foreign Ministry and Indonesian embassies are entrusted with overseeing the development and execution trade and investment policies.
"Indonesian diplomats must think like merchants” is what Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi instructed all diplomats alike, whether they are career or noncareer, working in the country or posted overseas, including ambassadors.
If embassy staff are civil servants of the Foreign Ministry, Indonesian ambassadors come from various backgrounds, including businesspeople, politicians, military officers and artists. And career diplomats, junior or senior, are mostly with an international relations educational background.
A merchant mindset is potentially contradictory to a diplomatic role. A diplomat’s goal should be to foster good ties without commercial profits in mind, so instilling a mercantile mindset is likely to disrupt or even corrupt this diplomatic objective.
