Slovakia celebrated its 24th Independence Day in Jakarta with a reception on Monday evening, highlighting the very solid relations it has with Indonesia, especially in bilateral trade.

Slovak Ambassador to Indonesia Michal Slivovic said bilateral relationship between Slovakia and Indonesia is very solid.

“The friendly ties between our two countries are evoking in a very good level,” he said.

Slivovic also highlighted in his speech the increasing cooperation between the two countries in term of exports and imports.

According to the international trade center Trademap report, Indonesia imported, among others, nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances as well as electrical machinery and equipment from Slovakia.

In 2015, the value of Indonesia’s total imports from Slovakia reached US$14.8 million, with the imports of nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances played the major role in the trade — the imports of those goods were valued at $4.7 million.

The figure is followed by the imports of electrical machinery and equipment, which were valued at around $3.3 million.

The total number of imports, $14.8 million, increased from around $12.5 million in 2014.

Meanwhile, the value of Indonesia’s total exports to Slovakia last year reached almost $43 million — a significant increase from about $17.5 million in 2014.

The majority of Indonesia’s total export, at around $33.7 million, was the value of the electrical machinery and equipment’s exports.

Indonesia also exported footwear, gather and the like; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes as well as coffee, tea, maté and spices to Slovakia — the Trademap report shows.

The reception, which was held in the ballroom of a South Jakarta hotel was opened by a choir of students from the University of Indonesia (UI) who are majoring in Russian Literature.

The students calling themselves Slaviana vocal group sang the Indonesian national anthem before singing the Slovakian national anthem in Slovak language.

The celebration of Slovakia’s independence included many Slovakia culinary delights, such as potato dumpling filled with cheese, meat roll and chicken schnitzel, which were enjoyed by all guests.

Indonesian dignitaries attending the reception included Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir and Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman.

Amran, in his speech, congratulated the people of Slovak Republic for its Independence Day and sent the apology from the President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo for not attending the event “due to his tight schedules”.

He hoped for a better cooperation between Indonesia and Slovakia, not only in economic matters, but also in other sectors.

“Beyond the strengthening of our economic cooperation, I believe that the expansion of opportunities in education, culture, security as well as trade will have a transformative impact on boosting the economic development of the countries,” Amran said. (vny)

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