Mantiki-network , Indonesia , Medan | Tue, 09/01/2009 12:18 PM | World

Slovakia may be small and far away, but it offers numerous business opportunities for Indonesia, says new Slovakian Ambassador to Indonesia Stefan Rozkopal.

“We may be small, but we are the biggest producer of luxurious cars of various brands in Central Europe. Our top exports are automobiles, electrical machinery, electronics, nuclear reactors, and iron and steel. We are also good in defense products,” Ambassador Rozkopal told The Jakarta Post on Saturday in connection with his country’s National Day.

Slovakia celebrates its Constitutional Day every Sept. 1, the day on which it adopted its present constitution in 1992.

On Jan. 1, 1993, Slovakia separated from the former Czechoslovakia and emerged as a new nation.

It seems after successfully attaining its goals including joining the EU, NATO, Schengen and euro zones, Slovakia is now focusing on forging economic ties with Asia, which is increasingly poised to become the new strategic center of gravity in the global economy and politics.

Of course, Indonesia, the biggest economy in Southeast Asia and a member of the G20, is one of Slovakia’s target countries in Asia.

Indonesia recognized Slovakia as a new country on Dec. 31, 1992, and established its embassy in Bratislava in 1995, Rozkopal said. Slovakia also has an embassy in Jakarta.

“Since then, our relations with Indonesia have been constantly improving. We (both countries) have a very good working relationship at international bodies like the United Nations, the Human Rights Council and several other agencies,” said Rozkopal, who submitted his credentials to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Aug. 12, 2009.

The ambitious new ambassador, who is not so new to Indonesia, was a little unhappy at the apparent low level of bilateral trade between Indonesia and Slovakia, which reached US$180 million last year.
“This trade is far below both our countries’ economic potentials. It is my main mission to improve economic ties with Indonesia, said Rozkopal, who speaks fluent Indonesian.

In fact, Rozkopal had worked previously as deputy head of mission as well as charge d’affaires in Indonesia, from 1996 to 2000.

Indonesia mainly exports food items, shoes, handicrafts, furniture, garments and sports wear to Slovakia. Technological products, agricultural machines military equipment, chemicals and pharmaceuticals are some of the main exports from Slovakia to Indonesia.

“We have a very good defense industry. We can offer a variety of high standard [NATO standard] defense equipment to Indonesia,” Rozkopal said.

Previously, Indonesia had bought 22 BVP 2 amphibious armored vehicles, at a cost of $23.5 million from Slovakia.

Bratislava had already offered several products to Indonesia, including the MPV (alligator and Gecco) vehicles, mobile hospitals and howitzer and suzanna weaponry.

Slovakia is ready to share its experience in transforming from a centralized economy to a free market economy.

“We have introduced some tough economic reforms, but now are reaping the benefits,” Rozkopal said.

The Slovak economy, Rozkopal said, grew (a remarkable) 10.4 percent in 2007. It also attracted massive flows of foreign direct investment.

When asked about the secret of Slovakia’s success, Rozkopal said it was partly because its tax system.

“We have this flat tax rate of 19 percent. We also introduced investor-friendly laws and provided infrastructure facilities to foreign investors. Now we have joined the euro zone and that’s also a big advantage,” Rozkopal said.

There is also a growing interest among Slovak tourists in Indonesia, and vice versa, he said.
“For example, we issued more than 1,000 visas to Indonesians last year,” Rozkopal said.


Indonesia had bought 22 BVP2 amphibious armored vehicles, at a cost of $23.5 million from Slovakia.