Jakarta. Migrant protection and tapping of overseas markets will top the agenda in a week long meeting kicked off Thursday between Indonesia’s Cabinet ministers and its overseas diplomats, the Foreign Ministry says.
Ministers will brief around 200 Indonesian ambassadors, consul generals and diplomats about the government’s intentions in a meeting held every Cabinet term, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah on Wednesday.
“The discussion will be different for each region but overall it will discuss issues pertaining to migrant workers, protection of Indonesian nationals, political diplomacy and the opening of new markets for Indonesian exports,” he said.
The Feb. 4-9 meeting will be opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace while the briefing by ministers will be held at Foreign Ministry’s office in Pejambon, Central Jakarta.
“We are looking for evaluations of programs that are already underway, and their potential into the future,” said Faizasyah.
He said the last similar meeting was held in 2008, at the end of the previous Cabinet period.
Protection of migrant workers has become part of the 100-day program under Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.
“Some 2,000 Indonesian nationals have returned to Indonesia and more will follow as part of repatriation conducted by Foreign Ministry toward our illegal migrants abroad. This includes Indonesians that have strayed into Papua,” said Faizasyah.
The figure has outnumbers the initial target of 1,300 illegal Indonesian nationals abroad that had been documented, he said.
Indonesia is also vying for new market opportunities in the Middle East and Latin America outside its traditional markets, Asia and the United States. This strategy has come after 2009’s global economic downturn, which was led by the US financial crisis.
Indonesia has been working on imposing compulsory halal certification for local food products to tap Middle Eastern markets.
During a hearing with the House of Representatives last year, Marty told lawmakers that Indonesia’s diplomats would continue to look for potential job markets overseas for its huge population of migrant workers.
A number of bilateral issues will also take center stage during the meeting as Indonesia has been in a stand off with neighboring countries over illegal migrants, border disputes and bilateral trade.
Indonesia has banned sending migrant workers to Malaysia since last June after a string of abuse cases against its workers.
Teguh Wardoyo, the Foreign Ministry’s director for justice and protection for Indonesian nationals, said Wednesday the ban had not been lifted pending a number of negotiations with Kuala Lumpur over costs to send workers overseas and minimum wages.
“Negotiations are still going on and we will not lift the ban until we reach a deal with Malaysia,” he said.
Observers have said a foreign policy focusing on creating opportunities for employment and exports abroad is what Indonesia needs in time of crisis and high unemployment.
The strategy, they say, can help President Yudhoyono silence domestic criticism.
Source: The Jakarta Post – 04 February 2010
Photo: Reuters
