Message from the Consul General of Indonesia, Mr. Chalief Akbar

INDONESIA CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY

On August 17th 2014, the People of Indonesian will celebrate the 69th anniversary of the Indonesian Independence Day. This moment day would be a great memorable moment for all Indonesia’s people in remembering the spirit of national awakening which was culminated at the Proclamation Day of Indonesia, on August 17th 1945. Allow me at this precious national inauguration to extend my warmest greetings to all Indonesian fellows in Hong Kong. I wish you always be healthy and prosperous in every single moment of your life.

Indonesia and Hong Kong have been enjoying very warm and mature relations since 1953 when the Government of Indonesia established its Indonesian mission in Hong Kong. Currently, the relations between Indonesia and Hong Kong remain strong and nurtured in every sector.

During global financial, economic and energy crisis, Indonesia shows its resilience and consistent economy growth. In 2014 Indonesia’s economic growth projected around 6.3% to 6.6% and Indonesia could be the second-fastest-growing G20 economy. The strong economy fundamentals will be the key issues of the Indonesia’s stable outlook, such a fast growing of middle class, rich and diverse natural resources, a young and educated workforce, and have adapted sound economic and fiscal policies.

With its great number of young population and strong domestic demand, Indonesia is increasingly attractive to companies overseas. The population here brings an important message for investor, that Indonesia is not only a massive domestic market, but also can be considered as a mean to employ young, productive and competitive labour as part of their industry. Together with its vast land and abundant natural resources, and industry could easily lower the cost of production and doing business efficiently.

In its relation to Hong Kong, the total trade of both Indonesia and Hong Kong continue to grow steadily. Based on the Hong Kong Trade and Industry report, Indonesia is Hong Kong 19th largest trading partner; 23rd largest domestic export and 18th largest market for re-export. Thus, it would be considered to grow much developed in the forthcoming years.

All the above-mentioned achievements have strengthened Indonesia’s capacity in regional and global context. In ASEAN, being the largest economy and the world’s fourth most populous country, Indonesia still maintain its economic performance in the core of slothful markets, and fully confident to overcoming the multidimensional crisis. Over the last five years, the Indonesia economy has developed at a faster rate than in many other ASEAN countries.

In global parameter, Indonesia is preserving its distinctiveness as the world’s third largest democracy, the country with the world’s largest Muslim population and a voice of moderation. Furthermore, Indonesia had already experienced a series of happy and joyful democracy party during the event of National elections of legislative and presidential election during the last moment of 9th July 2014. Now, the people of Indonesia are waiting for the succession of President with the optimistic spirit of nationalism. In this relation, the spirit of national unity still is the main purpose for Indonesia’s entire people mind as it has been preserved since the moment of Indonesia’s Independence Proclamation, in 1945.

Furthermore, while keeping itself to be part of solutions to global challenges in 2014; Indonesia will also continue to extend its strong commitment to contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Having said that, Indonesia is actively contributes in setting the future direction of APEC on its important role in increasing regional economic cooperation. As a milestones and real contribution, the last APEC Summit 2013 in Bali could be deemed as a melting economic linkage with other economies in the region for the betterment of the future.

With all these available opportunities, on the occasion of the 69th anniversary of Indonesian Independence Day, I am taking the pleasure to invite you to visit Indonesia and find yourself fascinated by Indonesia’s unique features. It is indeed our privilege to arrange and facilitate your business travel to Indonesia, be it for economic activities, or simply to enjoy a lot of places of interest. Bearing in mind that Indonesia; as an archipelagic country; comprises of more than 17.000 of islands.

To sum up my remarks, I would like to share my strong confidence that Indonesia and Hong Kong relations will be more mature and nurturing in the future.

Last, for all my Indonesian fellows in Hong Kong, Dirgahayu Kemerdekaan Indonesia.

印度尼西亞駐香港總領事 Chalief Akbar 獻辭

二零一四年八月十七日，印尼人民將會慶祝印尼獨立六十九周年。這個日子是全體印尼人民難以忘懷的時刻，讓我們謹記一九四五年八月十七日宣告印尼獨立的民族精神。請容許本人藉此重要的國家節日，謹向居於香港的印尼同胞們致以最熱烈的道賀，祝你們生命的每一刻都永遠健康和繁盛。

自一九五三年，印尼政府在香港設立其印尼領館以來，印尼與香港便享有非常溫暖和成熟的關係。現今印尼與香港的關係仍保持強勁並在各個領域培育成長。

在全球金融、經濟和能源危機期間，印尼顯示出其彈性和保持經濟增長。印尼在二零一四年的經濟增長大約在百分之六點三至百分之六，使印尼成為第二增長最快二十國集團的經濟體。強勁的經濟基礎是印尼前景穩定的主要因素，包括快速增加的中產階級、豐富多樣的自然資源、年輕及受過教育的勞動力以及適當的經濟和財政政策等。

憑藉其龐大的年輕人口和強勁的內部需求，使印尼對海外公司越來越具吸引力。印尼的人口為投資者帶來一個重要的訊息，那就是印尼不單只是一個龐大的國內市場，同時亦是為考慮聘用年輕、具生產力和競爭力勞工為其工業的一部分，連同其廣袤的土地和豐盛的自然資源，使工業的生產成本得以降低以及有效地開展業務。

印尼與香港的關係，印港兩地的貿易總額持續穩定增長。根據香港貿易和工業報告，印尼是香港第十九大貿易夥伴、第二十三大出口和第十八大轉口市場。因此，這將被視為在未來數年仍會有更大的發展。

以上提及的成就加強了印尼在城區和全球範圍的能力。作為東盟最大經濟體和世界第四人口大國，印尼即使位於並不活躍市場的核心，但仍保持其經濟表現，並抱充份信心克服多重危機。在過去的五年，印尼的經濟發展相對其他許多東盟國家更為快速。

整體參數而言，印尼保持着作為世界第三大民主國家、擁有世界最大的穆斯林人口和溫和聲音的獨特性。此外，在二零一四年七月九日，印尼經歷了一系列既幸福又愉快的民主派對，進行了全國國會議員及總統大選。目前，印尼人民期待着充滿樂觀民族主義的總統繼位。在此時刻，正如在一九四五年宣告印尼獨立時那樣，國家團結精神為主仍是全體印尼人民的思維。

此外,作為面對二零一四年解決全球挑戰方案的一份子，印尼將繼續加強為地區的和平、穩定和繁榮作出貢獻。即是說，印尼積極地為制定東盟的未來方向作出貢獻，加強地區性經濟合作的重要角色。二零一三年在峇厘舉行的東盟峰會便可作為一個里程碑和實質貢獻，該峰會被視為是為區內的美好未來與其他的經濟體融合了經濟連繫。

憑藉這些有利的機會，在印尼獨立六十九周年之際，本人高興地誠邀閣下訪問印尼並會發現自己迷上印尼的獨特之處。為你們安排和方便前往印尼商旅、經濟活動或只是享受多處有趣的地方是我們的榮幸。請銘記印尼是一個群島之國，由超過一萬七千多個島嶼所組成。

總結而言，本人想與大家分享自己強烈的信心，印尼與香港的關係在未來將會更為成熟和滋潤。

最後，居於香港的印尼同胞們：慶祝印度尼西亞獨立日！