Recover Faster, Rise Stronger – Indonesia at 77
Foreign Desk
This year Indonesia celebrates its 77th anniversary of Independence. Victor J Sambuaga, Chargé d’Affaires at the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria was happy to host a celebration after two years of interruption dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. For Indonesia, this year is all about getting back on track and so they have come up with a national slogan for this year’s commemoration – “pulih lebih cepat, bangkit lebih kuat” – meaning ‘recover faster, rise stronger’.
In South Africa, August is celebrated as Women’s Month and we honour the many women who were at the forefront of the fight against Apartheid. Sambuaga, in his address remembered Indonesian national hero and women emancipation activist, Raden Ajeng Kartini. She authored a book titled Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang (which translates to out of dark, comes light). The book portrays Kartini’s fight for women’s rights and equality during the colonial era. Her struggles laid the foundation for women’s emancipation even before Indonesia’s Independence Day.
Sambuaga spoke about the close ties between the two countries saying that “South Africa is Indonesia’s long lost brother”. During colonization the Dutch exiled some Indonesians to the Cape and there they fought together with South Africans to drive off colonialism. They resided as a part of the South African community and are known as the Cape Malay.”
In 1955, South Africa was among 29 African and Asian countries that attended the Bandung Conference in Indonesia. South African anti-apartheid activists Molvi Ismail Cachalia and Moses Kotane attended as observers, and presented a memorandum against apartheid, which significantly helped internationalise support for the liberation movement. The event signified Indonesia’s support for South Africa’s path to liberalization, said Sambuaga, and the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1994. “In fact, the bond between the two countries was so strong that President Mandela made a state visit to Indonesia in 1997, three years after the establishment of diplomatic relations, and then got introduced to Batik, or in South Africa, it is widely known as ‘Madiba Shirt’. There is an interesting story behind that visit, when on the first day President Mandela arrived in Indonesia, President Soeharto gave him Batik. The next day, during the state visit at the palace, President Soeharto was ready to welcome his counterpart, wearing a full lounge suit – then Madiba arrived in his Batik. He said, “I love it, I could not wait to wear it”. And that is how, the bonds between the two countries further intensified through the shared love of Batik – which has been inscribed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from Indonesia by UNESCO in 2009.”
Speaking about trade relations SA Deputy Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga said that much progress has also been. Bilateral trade between South Africa and Indonesia increased from R13 billion in 2016 to R 25 billion in 2021. During the same period, South Africa’s exports increased from R4 billion to R11 billion, whereas imports increased from R10 billion to R15 billion. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, South African exports to Indonesia increased by 38% (R8 billion to R11 billion) between 2020 and 2021, whereas imports grew by 50% (R10 billion to R15 billion).
South Africa holds the title of Strategic Partner for Indonesia, the only country on the African Continent to date. Last year’s trade volume was recorded at US$ 1,4 billion and Sambuaga said that Indonesia sees enormous potential in establishing a stronger and more robust relationship with South Africa. There is potential for increasing cooperation especially in the defence, agriculture and fisheries sectors. A free visa regime, which Indonesia had in place pre-pandemic, if reciprocated by South Africa will facilitate business, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
South Africa signed the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in November 2020 and Sambuaga said that he believes Indonesia and South Africa could play a key role in bringing the two regions closer. He also thanked South Africa and other member states for their support for Indonesia’s presidency in the G20 forum. “With your able support and assistance, as the current president of the G20, Indonesia will continue to pursue our focus to achieve the collective targets under three main pillars, namely Global Health Architecture, Sustainable Energy Transition, and Digital Transformation.”
Chikunga used the opportunity to announce the candidature of South Africa for re-election as a Member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council in Part II at the 41st Session of the Assembly scheduled to take place in Montreal, Canada from 27 September to 7 October 2022. She said that South Africa appreciates support for its candidature.
“South Africa looks forward to the continued growth and development of our relations and I am certain that the goodwill that unites our peoples will continue to strengthen and prosper in the coming years,” said Chikunga.
(Diplomatic Society)
