The Republic of Indonesia is set to forge trade and socio-cultural ties with the province of Davao del Norte, in a bid to further strengthen historical, cultural as well as bilateral trade agreements between Indonesia and the Philippines.
Indonesian Consul General Lalu Malik Partawana said his office is looking forward to forging a cultural and socio-economic accord with Davao del Norte.
He added that the Indonesian Consulate has identified Davao del Norte as the next Mindanao province to enter into trade relations with Indonesia in the framework of the BIMP-EAGA, a sub-regional economic cooperation initiative in Southeast Asia.
Last year, together with the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), the Indonesian Consulate brokered a trade and socio-cultural relations pact between North Sulawesi of Indonesia and Saranggani province in Mindanao .
Consul General Partawana cited the Jose Abad Santos-Glan-Sarangani Cooperation Triangle (JAGS-CT) that has already initiated trade ties with their Indonesian counterparts.
He said this has institutionalized participation of local government units in facilitating trade, investment and tourism through the conduct of an BIMP-EAGA LGU forum.
“We will soon do this kind of cultural and economic cooperation with Davao del Norte, which I believe would be mutually beneficial to both Indonesia and the Philippines ,” Partawana said Monday in Tagum City.
Partawana assured the province will come next in line after Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario expressed his strong desire to include Davao del Norte in the socio-economic cooperation initiative.
The consul general said such cooperation will be a great ascent from the educational partnership forged between Davao del Norte and Jakarta of Indonesia about a year ago.
The educational partnership, particularly the teacher exchange program, was created by the ACES College of Tagum City with the schools accredited with the Southeast Asian Minister of Education Organization Regional Open Learning Center (SEAMOLEC) based in Jakarta.
Both Partawana and Del Rosario graced the inauguration of the Delka Hall Incubation Center of the ACES Colleges in Tagum City.
Del Rosario said the province has been enjoying trade relations with other Asian countries, particularly in terms of its priced export—banana.
However, he is confident forging socio-economic partnership with a part of Indonesia will not only enrich their existing trade relations, but is also a way of nurturing the deeply-rooted cultural and historical connection between the two countries.
“I hope the possibility of opening up our province to be an active global participant will help us send a clear message inviting foreign investors to come and stimulate further our local economy,” the governor said.
