Commentary: Celebrating 50-Year Partnership Between Indonesia and Singapore

Commentary: Celebrating 50-Year Partnership Between Indonesia and Singapore i

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo. (JG Photo/Yudhi Sukma Wijaya)

By : Adhyanti S. Wirajuda & M. Reza Adenan | on 10:08 PM November 10, 2016
Category : Opinion, Commentary

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will visit the historic city of Semarang in Central Java, where he will meet with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Monday (14/11).

The two leaders will participate in the inauguration of Kendal Industrial Park – one of the most recent manifestations of the 50-year partnership between Indonesia and Singapore.

Strategically located, the 2,700-hectare industrial park, which was developed by Indonesia's Jababeka and Singapore's Sembcorp Development, is not only expected to create jobs in the region, but it also represents a partnership to develop a competitive production base to utilize the full potential of the Asean Economic Community.

This is just one of many collaborations between Indonesia and Singapore. Over the past four years, Singapore has been leading in foreign direct investment in Indonesia. The leaders of both countries also enjoy good personal relations.

Despite many challenges over the past 50 years, the partnership has been growing in strength. Both countries take a leading role in maintaining regional peace and stability, and promoting prosperity and unity, particularly in the context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

As the two countries embark on taking the partnership to the next level in decades to come, this meeting and the anniversary should be used to gain momentum. There is no other option for the two countries than to strengthen their partnership to face the changing regional and global environment and empower younger generations.

People-to-people contact between the youth of both countries is essential to solidify the future of the partnership, of which a roadmap for the next five decades will hopefully be inspired by Monday's meeting.

Adhyanti S. Wirajuda and M. Reza Adenan are diplomats at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore. The views expressed are their own.

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