Indonesia eyes further cooperation with Laos

Indonesian Ambassador to Laos Irmawan Emir Wisnandar made the suggestion while talking to Vientiane Times yesterday during media coverage of a flag-raising ceremony at the embassy in Vientiane to mark 71 years of the Republic of Indonesia.
“It is time for Indonesia to come here to Laos for doing business to develop the sectors in Laos,” he said, noting that Laos is the main producer of potassium in the region.
Indonesia has a population of more than 250 million, the biggest in Asean. Currently there are about 250 Indonesians living in Laos for their jobs in the mining and tourism industries.
Irmawan referred to the Indonesians as skilled labourers and experts, with some of them working for hospitality businesses, hotels and restaurants. He predicted that the numbers of skilled Indonesians would increase under the Asean Community’s policy on the free flow of labour within the region.
Laos and Indonesia established diplomatic relations in August 1957, but despite their friendly relations the value of their bilateral trade is still small.
According to Trading Economics, which referred to Statistics Indonesia, exports to Laos by Indonesia decreased to US$4.5 million in 2014 from $5.8 million in 2013. Exports to Laos by Indonesia averaged $3.6 million from 1993 until 2014, reaching an all-time high of $23.8 million in 2012 and a record low of $300,000 in 1993. Exports to Indonesia from Laos totalled $51.3 million in 2014.
The ambassador referred to Indonesia-Laos relations, which have passed more than 50 years, noting there are many things that can be done regarding bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
“We have space to improve that through people-to-people and business-to-business contacts,” he said.
Mentioning the past when Laos was not a member of Asean, the ambassador said that as one of the six founders of Asean, Indonesia was active to invite Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam to join the regional association in order to secure peace in the region after the end of the Indochina War.
Playing a significant role in order to maintain the centrality, cohesion, solidarity and unity of Asean has been the view and remains the vision of Indonesia, seeking to ensure Asean is a strong regional organisation, according to Irmawan.
He praised Laos’ current chairmanship of Asean, as the 49th Asean Ministerial Meeting and related meetings passed with very successful outcomes. The ambassador said they were very open venues for discussion, open for any recommendations given by all Asean members.
“That is why at the end, the joint communique of the AMM could be done right on time,” Irmawan said.
“We are happy to see that, because now everyone is focusing on and looking at Laos concerning international global affairs. Laos has [proved it is] able to chair Asean 2016.”