Support for and pride in local products is key to Indonesia's success in entering the era of the ASEAN Community 2015, as stated by Foster Gultom, representing Director-General of ASEAN Cooperation at the national seminar at the University Kanjuruhan (IKIP PGRI) Malang (Unikama) this afternoon (05/14/2012).
He said the challenges the people of Indonesia face for the future is the rapid globalization, liberalization of the flow of goods and services between ASEAN and Dialogue Partner countries, as well as the development of the evolving regional architecture.
"Therefore, the competitiveness of Indonesian society should be improved and support for domestic production is an important factor for Indonesia to enter the era of the ASEAN Community 2015," added Foster.
In his keynote speech, Foster also said that ASEAN has transformed into an "rule-based" organization with "legal personality" and oriented to the interests of the society. On this occasion, Foster also described the challenges faced by ASEAN, especially in the field of trade economy.
The National Seminar, officially opened by the Rector of the University of Kanjuruhan Malang, Dr. Hadi Sriwiyana, MM, was followed by a discussion session presenting Ambassador Iwan Wiranataatmadja, Dean of the Faculty of Law of Unikama, Dr. Didik Sukriono, Director of School of Foreign Service (Sekdilu), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ben Perkasa Drajat, and the Head of the Graduate Program of the Faculty of Law of Universitas 17 Agustus Surabaya, Dr. Endang Prasetyawati.
During the discussion, Ambassador Iwan Wiranataatmadja described the cooperation of ASEAN towards ASEAN Community 2015 and its implications for Indonesia, including the role of Indonesia in ASEAN Chairmanship 2011.
Ambassador Iwan also highlighted the efforts to realize the development of Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ), the development of the South China Sea issue, and East Asia Summit.
Next, highlighting the urgency of global perspective in education towards ASEAN Community 2015, Dr. Didik Sukriono described the three pillars of globalization: open competition, interdependency, and competitiveness.
The actualization of national values and national identity, and broadening the understanding of the meaning of nationality is crucial for the formation of the human character of Indonesia", he concluded.
In this case, the role and function of educational institutions in Indonesia are focused on forming cultured individuals, with global attitude and responsibility, and able to think globally and act locally.
Similar statements were also presented by the Director of Sediklu, Ben Perkasa Drajat, in his presentation titled "Improving ASEAN Economic Cooperation and Preparing Indonesian Business World” in the discussion session during the day.
Reviewing of efforts to realize the ASEAN Community 2015, through improving the competitiveness of the region by strengthening the capacity of ASEAN, Dr. Ben emphasized the importance of changing mindset of Indonesian society.
"We should change our mindset, from pessimism to optimism. Besides, we should also have more confidence to meet the realization of the ASEAN Community,” said Ben.
Meanwhile, as the last speaker, Dr. Endang Prasetyawati, SH, M. Hum highlighted the readiness of national actors in the business world to meet the ASEAN Community 2015 from the perspective of business law.
According to Dr. Endang, the realization of the ASEAN Community means the merging of economic community of ASEAN Member Countries. "This means the opening of business opportunities for entrepreneurs from all walks of Indonesia". However, Dr Endang added, there are still concerns that the system of business law in Indonesia is not up for the challange.
On the occasion, Secretary of Director-General of ASEAN Cooperation, on behalf of the Director-General of ASEAN Cooperation, and the Rector of the University of Kanjuruhan Malang also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation for the national seminar in question and agreement to have related cooperation in the future, especially regarding the development of ASEAN.
The National Seminar, organized by the Directorate General of ASEAN Cooperation, c.q Directorate of Dialogue Partners and ASEAN Inter-regional Affairs, in collaboration with the University of Kanjuruhan Malang, was attended by some 200 participants representing various Ministries/Institutions in Central and Regional Governments, academia, NGOs, entrepreneurs and mass media in Malang and beyond. (Source: Dit. MWAK/Ed.PY)