REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By: Julkifli Marbun/Editor in Republika.co.id
Indian alumni consisted of Indonesians graduated from Indians universities are ready to bridge economic cooperation between India and Indonesia.
Economic cooperation between India and Indonesia are expected to increase after the visit of Indian Vice President, His Excellency Mr. Mohammad Hamid Ansari, to Jakarta, Sunday (1/11).
The enhanced cooperation is welcomed enthusiastically by the alumni.
"In the future, we will explore [business] cooperation with India," said Didip Diandra, an alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University, India, currently working as an organizer in school-based cooperative from Gontor, KOSAGON and a lecture in several universities in Jakarta.
Didip's hopes represent a common dream by alumni of India throughout Indonesia who join in facebook massanger and whatsapp group discussion managed by other alumni, Julkifli Marbun and friends.
As a country with the second fastest growing economy after China in the world, India today has grown into a giant economy. Even in the midst of weakening world economy, India is still showing a good economic performance.
According to The Times of India, Indian economy grew at 7.3 per cent in 2014-15 due to improvement in the performance of both services as well as manufacturing sectors. The economic growth was 6.9 per cent in 2013-14 as per the new series of national accounts with base year of 2011-12.
Indonesia has a big hope for economic cooperation between the two countries as both countries have also expressed joint commitment to enhance South-South cooperation and increase participation in peacekeeping operations.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno L.P. Marsudi said that trade between Indonesia and India was valued at US$16.7 billion per year in energy sector.
Meanwhile, Indonesia has so far enjoyed a trade surplus with India, particularly from palm oil exports, she revealed.
"Business-to-business relations must be further stepped up in view of the fact that both countries have established close relations since the Non-Aligned Summit," she added as quoted from Antara.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla, after receiving Indian vice president Mohammad Hamid Ansari at his office, said there is potential for better cooperation with Indonesia in a number of sectors, including commodities trade and industrial cooperation.
"Trade between Indonesia and India is close to US$20 billion a year and there is still potential for us to increase it," Kalla said.
For Indonesia, India is not only becomes investment or economic partner. Indonesian government is urged to make India as a reference to improve economy.
Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) in Banking and Financial division, Rosan Perkasa Roeslani said, Indian economy's track record should be a reference for Jokowi-JK administration to improve local economy.
Rosan said, in a statement to media, the Indian rate of growth is better than China.
"The key is that the manufacturing sector has been prepared by India as an economic engine. In addition, India also diversified its products and exports," Rosan said.
He explained that Indian exports include not only low-tech manufactured products, such as textiles and jewelry, but also medium-tech such as automotive components and machinery, as well as high-tech products such as electronics and communications.
The economic potential can certainly be benefitted for Indonesia. The alumni of India, as Didip said, hope to make contribution to bridge economic cooperation between India and Indonesia.
Member of alumni of India spread in various regions in Indonesia. Among them were lecturers, teachers, civil servants, local government officials and even entrepreneurs in several economic sectors.
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