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| Participants to The Korea Times Global Business Club highlighting opportunities in Indonesia applaud at the Press Center in central Seoul, Thursday. In the first row, seventh from left, is Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin and in the first row, eighth from left, is Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
Indonesia seeks cooperation in creative industry with Korea
By Kwon Mee-yoo
The Korea Times hosted the inaugural edition of its Global Business Club (GBC) aiming to become a platform for business leaders and professionals to exchange experiences and insights to enhance international business perspectives.
Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin introduced Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto during the first session of the business club under the theme, "Korean Business Opportunities in Indonesia" held at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, Thursday.
Oh expressed hopes of Sulistiyanto's contribution to the club, which would bring unique and valuable insights not easily available from other sources.
"We know with the size of its population and abundance of resources, plus with the addition of the forward-going development momentum, Indonesia is not just a land of opportunities but emerging to become 'the' land of opportunities," the president-publisher said.
Addressing the club, the Indonesian ambassador presented various diplomatic and economic information about Indonesia and took part in a Q&A session with the participants. Prior to serving as ambassador to Korea, he held a prominent role as a business leader in Indonesia.
Sulistiyanto highlighted Indonesia's capital relocation project, which opens up vast opportunities for Korea.
"Indonesia is planning to relocate the capital city from Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan," the ambassador said, while the large number of Korean companies participating in the new capital project indicates their growing interest in investing in it.
"The capital city is expected to create several economic impacts ― increasing national economic growth, creating a more comprehensive investment boost, encouraging inward investment in other provinces and increasing investment in non-traditional sectors, especially in the service," Sulistiyanto said.
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| Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto speaks during The Korea Times Global Business Club at the Press Center in central Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
He introduced six strategic economic clusters of the new capital, which will play a key role in reducing congestion and rebalancing the country. The six clusters are clean technology, integrated pharmaceuticals, sustainable agriculture, eco and health tourism, chemical products and low carbon energy.
During the G20 Summit in Bali last November, the leaders of Korea and Indonesia met and signed MOUs related to the development of the new capital. Korean companies are interested in presenting smart city concepts, planning advanced air mobility networks and integrating them with land transportation in the eco-friendly new capital.
"In regard to this new capital, please don't doubt the commitment of the Indonesian government. It's already stamped by the Indonesian Parliament and the commitment will continue after the president changes," the ambassador said, adding that Indonesia already passed the point of no return to building a new capital.
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| Participants in the first session of The Korea Times Global Business Club listen to a presentation by Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto at the Press Center in central Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
According to the ambassador, the progress of the new capital's infrastructure development reached 15 percent as of last week.
"President (Joko Widodo) targets the 2024 Indonesian Independence Day to be celebrated (in the new capital) and will be declared as the capital city of Indonesia for administration first and then other sectors will follow," he said.
"Indonesia is also boosting the development of the surrounding area. There are two close cities in that area called Balikpapan and Samarinda and this area (East Kalimantan) is rich in LNG resources. In building the new Indonesian capital and surrounding areas, Indonesia invites foreign partners, especially Korea concerning technology and expertise."
The ambassador also noted Indonesia's strong labor force, with 144 million active workers out of a population of 275 million. As of 2022, Korea ranks as the fourth-largest destination for Indonesian workers.
However, the ambassador expressed his desire to bring more young and hardworking Indonesians to Korea through the government-to-government Employment Permit System as well as private-to-private scheme.
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| A delegation from the Embassy of Indonesia in Seoul and Indonesia Investment Promotion Center Seoul attend The Korea Times Global Business Club at the Press Center in central Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
A large delegation from the Indonesian Embassy also attended the event, including Counselor for Investment and Trade Affairs Adhyanti Wirajuda, Minister Counselor for Creative & Digital Economy, Acceleration of Startup and Public Diplomacy Joannes Tandjung, Counselor for Investment and Trade Affairs Puji Basuki and Counselor for Political Affairs Sigit Aris Prasetyo as well as Director of the Indonesia Investment Promotion Center (IIPC) Seoul Reza Mawasthama.
In the area of culture, Tandjung said Korea 360, a Korean culture promotion center that opened at Lotte Shopping Avenue in Jakarta last December, is a smashing success among young Indonesians.
"If I may further underline, I think the X Factor of Korean creative content is not only the beautiful actors or actresses, but more than that is the strong message. For example, during the pandemic, many younger Indonesians were listening to this famous song titled 'Life Goes On' by BTS. The song has a very strong message about life, which would certainly move on after the pandemic," he said.
In addition to the ambassador's presentation on the opportunities for collaboration between the Korean wave and the I-wave (Indonesian wave), Tandjung said that his country seeks to establish an ecosystem for creative industries through such joint projects.
"We're not only looking to make another K-wave, but we are holding hands with K-wave to make this ecosystem and to understand that in Korea, stars go through a process called education," Tandjung said.
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| Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin speaks during the inaugural session of The Korea Times Global Business Club at the Press Center in central Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
President-Publisher Oh explained how the global business club enables its members to stay informed of the latest trends and developments in the international business landscape.
"The GBC is aimed at informing the select privileged members of the goings-on around the globe. So the members can have broader global views and make the right decisions at the right time, whether business or otherwise," Oh said.
The club plans to promote additional global business prospects for Korea, including Japan, China and Saudi Arabia throughout the year.
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