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EMBASSY
OF INDIA JAKARTA
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E
M B A S S Y O F I N D I A
S-1, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kuningan
J A K A R T A
Tel.
: 5204150, 52, 57
Fax. : 5204160
E-mail address
Information Wing :
eoiisi@indo.net.id
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Warta
February 2002
Donation of medicines and relief material by the Government of India for the flood victims in Jakarta
The Prime Minister of India, H.E. Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had sent a letter of sympathy to H.E. Megawati Soekarnoputri, the President of the Republic of Indonesia concerning the flood situation in Indonesia. In his message, the Prime Minister said that he was deeply saddened to learn of the severe displacement and damage to property caused by the recent floods in Jakarta and conveyed the sympathy and solidarity of the Government and the people of India in this natural calamity.
The Prime Minister also expressed confident that under the leadership of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, the people of Indonesia would be able to overcome the crisis with their customary fortitude and resilience.
Meanwhile, the Government of India announced donation of medicines and relief material to the Government of the Republic of Indonesia worth Rp. 1,000,000,000 (Rupiah one billion) in accordance with the requirements indicated by the Indonesian side.
Presentation of Books to the Indonesian Art College, Bandung
With a view to promoting the Indian Art and Culture, the Embassy of India, Jakarta through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Government of India, New Delhi gifted books on Indian Art and Culture to the Sekolah Tinggi Seni Indonesia, Bandung. The presentation of books to the STSI Bandung included books on Indian mythology and epics, Buddhism, Indian literature, culture, economy, handicrafts, Indian traditional medicines, etc.
To coincide with the presentation books, a Workshop followed by lecture demonstration with dance performance on the Indian classical Kathak dance was conducted by Ms. Nandini Sinha, Kathak Teacher at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Centre, Jakarta at the Sekolah Tinggi Seni Indonesia, Bandung on February 19, 2002.
A high-level Indian delegation, led by Mr. Mohammad Anwarul Haque
visits Indonesia
A high-level five-member Indian Parliamentary delegation led by Mr. Mohammad Anwarul Haque, Member of Parliament visited Indonesia from 5th to 8th February, 2002. The delegation visited Indonesia to apprise Indonesian leaders and a cross-section of leading opinion-makers in the country, of the situation India is facing as a result of continuing acts of cross-border terrorism.
During their stay, the Indian delegation called on H.E. Megawati Soekarnoputri, President of the Republic of Indonesia. The delegation emphasized the need for multi-religious and multi-ethnic plural democracies like India and Indonesia to cooperate closely together in the global war against terrorism.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri underscored Indonesia's firm resolve to confront terrorism and reaffirmed the Indonesian Government's commitment to cooperate with other friendly countries, particularly India, to eliminate terrorism in all its forms.
The President of Indonesia said she was looking forward to her forthcoming visit to India. The delegation assured her that a warm and friendly welcome awaited her in India, both from Indian leaders and Indian people.
The delegation arrived in Jakarta on February 5 after visits to Brunei and Malaysia. Since its arrival, the delegation has had meetings with H.E. Mr. Akbar Tanjung, Speaker of DPR and H.E. Dr. Amien Rais, Speaker of MPR as well as leaders of Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, the two largest Islamic organizations in the country.
The other members of the delegation were Mr. Adhik Shirodkar, Member of Parliament, Mr. Trilochan Kanungo. Member of Parliament, Mr. Sudhir T. Devare, former Indian Ambassador to Indonesia and Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Director of Maulana Azad Institute of Islamic Studies at the Jamia Milia University in New Delhi.
India and Indonesia to cooperate in Information Technology, Pharmaceuticals and Agro Products
H.E. Ms. Rini M.S. Soewandi, the Minister for Industry and Trade, Government of the Republic of Indonesia visited India on February 20, 2002. She was a Key-note Speaker at
India-Soft 2002. During the visit, she announced Indonesia's intention to import rice from India and also increase bilateral trade, particularly through larger exports of crude palm oil and other commodities. Soewandi was also accompanied by officials from Sumatra province who are keenly interested in Railway projects. The Minister also visited Bangalore city.
During the meeting with her Indian counterpart, H.E. Mr. Murasoli Maran he said that India and Indonesia will cooperate closely in the areas of Information Technology, pharmaceuticals and agro-products to step up the current level of bilateral trade between the two countries. He also raised the issue of Counter Trade in wheat with the Indonesian Minister and asked the Indonesian side to nominate a company that they deem fit to undertake counter trade. As per the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Mineral and Metals Trading Corporation Limited (India) and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Indonesian side has to designate a company to undertake counter trade. Indonesian Minister assured that her Department will take up this issue and a tangible solution will come out by the time Indonesian President visits India in the beginning of April this year. Indian side informed that 10% reduction in tariff on crude palm oil has been effected with effect from 30th November, 2001 and no special additional duty (SAD) is levied on import of crude oil. Indonesian side evinced keen interest in seeking expertise of India in information technology and pharmaceutical sectors.
India-Indonesia bilateral trade during 2000-2001 amounted to US $ 1301.78 million with our exports at US $ 399.24 million and imports at US $ 902.54 million. The total Indian investment in Indonesia is about US $ 800 million whereas the Indonesian investment in India is about US $ 83 million. The major items of exports to Indonesia include oil meals, groundnut, agro-chemicals, cotton yarn fabrics, machinery and instruments etc. Major items of imports include vegetable oils (edible), coal, coke and briquettes, organic chemicals, etc.
IT Presentation by former Indonesian Minister for Industry and Trade
Recently, the former Indonesian Minister for Industry and Trade, Luhut Panjaitan made a presentation at the Embassy of India, Jakarta on an Institute for Information Technology he has set up in Sumatra. Similar presentations were also made by NIIT and APTEC Institutes based in Jakarta on training in IT which they offer and which could be used by the Institute set up Mr. Panjaitan. The interaction was arranged by the Embassy of India.
India - ASEAN
The modalities for the India-ASEAN Summit, the first of its kind, has already been worked out by senior officials from the two sides in Kuala Lumpur recently. The decision in principle to upgrade the present dialogue partnership was taken in November last after protracted exchanges spread over months.
The next ASEAN Summit is due to be held in Cambodia in November, 2002 and that will become the occasion for the upgraded dialogue with India. It will mark the culmination of progress that began with cooperation at a lower level, and was raised step by step. It is seen as a happy augury for the promotion of economic ties, apart from better understanding of each other's concerns on political issues.
It could pave the way for free trade between India and ASEAN, including Indonesia thus giving a boost to economic relationship. Another significant feature of the proposed enhancement of cooperation is New Delhi's decision to give shape to the science and technology vision 2020 (India and ASEAN) which will be dove-tailed into the vision 2020, for India, prepared by the India's top scientists under the leadership of Abdul Kalam.
Already New Delhi has plans to set up biotechnology projects in Southeast Asia. India has also offered help in the ASEAN Integration Initiative, seeking to weld the economics of the old and new members and in the teaching of English language. The India-ASEAN cooperation fund of two million dollars will come handy for cooperative efforts.
The enhanced relationship with the grouping will be useful, it is felt, for deeper coordination in meeting the challenge of terrorism and trans-national crime. The navies of the two sides could strengthen exchanges for maritime security in the region - for which India's role is regarded crucial by the United States and other important world powers.
The significance of India's political relationship with ASEAN will be clear when it is realized that Indonesia is only 60 kms way from the last island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India and has a 1600-km border with Myanmar.
Direct Garuda flight to India soon
Mr. Marcos Umbas, the Commercial Director of the Indonesian National Carrier, GARUDA announced recently that it would soon open a direct air link with India covering New Delhi-Chennai-Mumbai-Jakarta or New Delhi-Chennai-Mumbai-Denpasar routes. The Indian National Carrier, Air-India already operates flights to Jakarta three days in a week.
The President of Interim Administration of Afghanistan visits India
H.E. Mr. Hamid Karzai, Chairman of the Afghan Interim Administration paid a state visit to India on 26-27 February, 2002. During his visit H.E. Mr. Hamid Karzai called on H.E. Mr. K.R. Narayanan, President of India, H.E. Mr. Krishan Kant, the Vice-President of India, and held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee. During H.E. Karzai's stay, External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh called on him. Chairman Karzai also held an interaction with the Indian Business and Industry community.
Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced a grant of US$ 10 million for immediate utilization by the Afghan government.
During the course of bilateral meetings, the two sides discussed various facets of diverse India-Afghan relations. In the specific context of bilateral cooperation aimed at reconstruction and rehabilitation in post conflict Afghanistan, the two sides assessed the status of existing cooperation, including in the field of education, health, and training facilities, and agreed to continue with the existing cooperation, and enhance cooperation in the following new areas Education, Health, Information Technology, Public Transport, Industry, Energy and Training.
To impart training to Government officials from various Afghan Ministries at various Institutions in India related to capacity building and human resource development in different sectors were also worked out during the visit.
Information Technology in India has global edge
Indian information technology has further improved during the last one year of global recession, the resource of over 100,000 trained IT professionals a year made India a "human power house". Coupled with this was India's edge with the English language and the environment of free enterprise that pervaded the IT industry. While speaking at the annual get-together of the Indian software and services industry, the Minister for Information Technology, H.E. Mr. Pramod Mahajan said that Indian vision of becoming an IT Superpower, India must look beyond the United States of America, Europe and Japan as potential markets. These countries accounted for 90 percent of Indian software exports.
India Permanent Exporter of Wheat and Rice
During the discussion on long-term Grain Export Policy, the Indian Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, H.E. Mr. Shanta Kumar disclosed that India will be a permanent exporter of wheat and rice. The State Trading Corporation of India, Mineral and Metal Corporation Limited, Power and Equipment Corporation, NAFED, MARKFED, etc. will be the main government recognized export houses will be handling export of wheat and rice abroad.
ISRO test fires Cryogenic Engine
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) achieved yet another milestone by successfully test firing indigenously built Cryogenic Integrated Engine at its Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) located in the southern part of Tamil Nadu State. According to the LPSC, the cryogenic engine, weighing 7.5 tonnes was a very complex system handling liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellants.
This capability of developing such engine was available only in five countries in the world.
While felicitating the scientists of ISRO, the President of India said that the path-breaking success would boost the morale of Indian scientists, technologists and policy-makers to further effectively apply such a technology in a wide variety of national building activities.
Tourism in Kashmir State
The sheer beauty and grandeur of the Kashmir Valley cannot be captured in plain words. Set at the foot of the awesome Himalayas, with the splendid Jhelum river meandering through it, this land of raw natural magnificence has enticed people from all over the world, for centuries. Kashmir is known as the Switzerland of India.
Kashmir is a land crisscrossed by umpteen lakes and rivers, each fascinating in its own way. The Jhelum river poses as the ethereal inspiration for many songs, legends and poems. The other notable lakes include the Manasbal Lake, the Liddar river, the famous Dal lake, Nagin Lake and the Wular Lake, the largest in the State. Shalimar, Nasim Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and the legendary Chashme - e - Shahi are some of the delightful gardens in Kashmir.
Apart from its being the land of soaring snow-clad mountains, sparkling waterfalls, shikaras (water taxis), impressive chinar trees, and vast fields of vibrant flowers, Kashmir is also renown for its unique handicrafts - papier-mache, woodwork, stone jewellery, fine Pashmina and Shahtush shawls, carpet weaving and silverware. The arts and crafts of this region are more than 500 years old, and bear a distinct Persian imprint. The valley is studded with several mosques and temples, built in diverse architectural styles. The Hazratbal Mosque, the holiest of all Muslim shrines, the stone temples of Avantipur, the cave at Amarnath, the most sacred Hindu shrine in the state, the great Shankaracharya temple, the Martand Temple all add to the kaleidoscopic appeal of Kashmir.
Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir and its very heart; Gulmarg , the snow haven; idyllic Pahalgam; Sonmarg, the golden meadow; Kokernag, Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary, Yusmarg and Daksum are some of the chief attractions of the valley.
Festivals
The major festivals that are celebrated with great pomp and show include the Id - ul - Fitr, Id - ul - Zuha, Shivratri, and Diwali.
How to Get There
By air: Indian Airlines has regular flights from Srinagar to Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Delhi, Jammu and
Leh.
By rail: The nearest railhead is Jammu Tawi, which is connected to all parts of the country by Express trains.
By road: Srinagar, located on the National Highway 1A, is connected by a network of roads to Jammu, Leh, Kargil, Gulmarg, Manasbal, Pahalgam, Delhi, Sonmarg and Pathankot.
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