Latest news with #bilateralpartnership
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Opportunity Oman: Unlocking trade and investment with Indonesia
The contours of global commerce are being redefined by collaborations among nations in the Global South, forging innovative pathways for mutual growth and development. Within this transformative environment, the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Indonesia are strategically positioned as key players in their respective regions, demonstrating a growing convergence of interests that points towards a robust bilateral partnership. While historical interactions have fostered a foundation of cultural understanding, the current momentum indicates a deepening engagement across political and economic spheres, suggesting the emergence of a potentially transformative economic corridor linking Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1977, both nations have steadily cultivated meaningful connections, marked by the opening of embassies in each other's capitals – Indonesia in Muscat (2011) and Oman in Jakarta (2013). This deepening of diplomatic ties has facilitated enhanced communication and cooperation. The shared Islamic heritage provides a natural cultural affinity, while concurrent membership in organisations such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) offers platforms for aligned action on global issues. A key driver of this evolving relationship is the notable expansion of economic ties. As per Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) bilateral trade volume has witnessed substantial growth, reaching $2.22 billion in 2023, a significant increase from $464 million in 2012. This upward trajectory reflects complementary economic strengths that position both nations for mutual benefit. An analysis of trade dynamics reveals both opportunities and areas for potential enhancement. While Indonesia historically maintained a trade surplus, the year 2023 saw a shift, with Oman's exports to Indonesia reaching $1.86 billion, contrasting with Indonesia's exports to Oman of $364 million. This imbalance is largely attributed to Oman's significant exports of semi-finished iron ($1.04 billion), refined petroleum ($539 million), and acyclic alcohol derivatives ($124 million). Indonesia's export portfolio to Oman includes key commodities such as palm oil ($150 million), cars ($79.3 million), and refined petroleum products, showcasing Indonesia's diverse manufacturing capabilities. This complementarity in economic outputs provides a solid foundation for expanded trade activities. Indonesian companies, such as PT Medco Energy International, have established a presence in Oman's energy sector. Furthermore, Oman's Vision 2040 programme actively encourages further Indonesian investment, particularly in sectors like real estate and tourism, with a focus on Integrated Tourism Complexes. The people-to-people dimension of this relationship is also significant. Approximately 80,000 Indonesian workers contribute to Oman's economy, fostering grassroots connections between the two societies. Tourism flows are also on the rise, facilitated by the introduction of a visa-free agreement in 2019. These interpersonal connections contribute to a favorable environment for strengthening business relationships. Looking ahead, digital cooperation presents an exciting avenue for growth. Recent high-level discussions have centered on collaboration in areas such as digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and innovation. Indonesia's thriving digital economy offers attractive opportunities for Omani investors, while Omani expertise in specific technological fields could contribute to Indonesia's development. Oman's strategic geographic location provides Indonesian businesses with a valuable gateway to the broader MENA region. Conversely, Indonesia's membership in ASEAN and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) offers Omani businesses potential access to the dynamic Southeast Asian market, encompassing over 650 million consumers. Untapped trade potential exists within specific sectors. Estimates suggest that Indonesia has the capacity to increase its exports of refined petroleum to Oman by an additional $31.5 million, while Oman could potentially increase its exports of iron ore to Indonesia by $10.7 million. These figures illustrate immediate opportunities for trade expansion. For Omani businesses seeking to enter the Indonesian market, focusing on Indonesia's large consumer base, exceeding 250 million people, is advisable. Beyond current exports, significant potential exists for expansion in sectors such as chemicals, metals, methanol, raw aluminum, gypsum, and polypropylene. Indonesian businesses targeting Oman should leverage existing strengths in sectors including wood products, electrical appliances, textiles, furniture, and foodstuffs. As Oman continues its infrastructure development, opportunities in the construction materials sector are also expected to grow. To advance the evolving partnership between Oman and Indonesia, both governments must prioritise reducing trade barriers, streamlining investment procedures, and fostering direct business-to-business engagement. Recent high-level business delegation visits highlight strong private sector interest in expanding bilateral cooperation. Despite the promising potential of the Oman-Indonesia economic corridor, it remains largely underutilised. With their complementary economic capabilities, shared cultural affinities, and strategic geographic positions, the two nations are well-positioned to cultivate a deeper and mutually advantageous relationship. Leveraging their respective strengths and regional influence, Oman and Indonesia could shape a transformative alliance that contributes not only to their national development goals but also to a more interconnected, balanced global economy. Realising this potential requires proactive efforts to enhance physical and diplomatic connectivity. Increasing direct flight connections between Oman and Indonesia is vital, particularly given Indonesia's demographic scale and its importance as a Global South economy with high tourism and trade potential. Improved air connectivity will also strengthen cultural and societal ties. On the trade front, the establishment of direct shipping routes between key ports would significantly facilitate bilateral commerce. Additionally, launching structured diplomatic platforms—such as a joint investment forum—would institutionalise dialogue and deepen economic cooperation. Embassies in both countries must play a catalytic role by accelerating business facilitation measures, promoting investment opportunities, and creating an enabling environment for sustained engagement.
Zawya
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Maldives: President extends Independence Day greetings to Seychelles
His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has extended warm greetings to His Excellency President Wavel Ramkalawan, the government, and the people of Seychelles on the occasion of the country's Independence Day. In a post shared via his official X account, President Dr Muizzu expressed hope that the festivities would be filled with joy and togetherness. He also reaffirmed the Maldives' commitment to its stable bilateral partnership with Seychelles. In a message sent to President Ramkalawan, President Dr Muizzu underscored the longstanding friendship between the two nations and highlighted their continued cooperation in promoting peace, security, and sustainable development across the Indian Ocean. He further expressed hope that the occasion would serve as a moment of unity and progress for the people of Seychelles, and reiterated his commitment to strengthening the close ties between the two countries. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Maldives: The President's Office.
ABC News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Australia's foreign minister wraps up Pacific tour
Over the past week, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong has been on a three-nation Pacific tour visiting Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu. Her trip comes just two weeks after the Australian federal election, which saw the Labor party sweep back into power for a second back-to-back term. As part of her visits, Senator Wong has re-emphasised Australia's commitment to climate action in Fiji, funding health reform in Tonga and reviving a bilateral partnership with Vanuatu. Dr Tess Newton Cain, adjunct Associate Professor at the Griffith Asia Institute, said there's no denying the amount of work that's gone into building relations with the Pacific, including listening to regional concerns. 'I think it's a process, not a product. You can't kind of tick he box and say, "Okay, we've done the listening now," said Dr Cain. She said the key now is whether the Australian government can sustain the pace it set in the first term. Dr Newton Cain also expects the face representing Australia in the region to change, with Assistant Minister Matt Thistlethwaite taking up a more prominent role. 'Given everything else that's going on in the world, we may not see uh Senator Wong in the region very often.' 'So, it's good for him (Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite) to get a chance to get his feet on the ground and meet some of the people that he's going to be dealing with,' said Dr Newton Cain.
Japan Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Remembering two titans in Japan-U.S. relations
If the Japan-U.S. relationship has felt a little unstable in recent weeks, that's understandable. Two of its pillars, Richard Armitage and Joseph S. Nye Jr., have died. Those two men labored for decades to advance that partnership, working in academia, business and the policy-making worlds to protect and promote our two nations' interests. Perhaps as no two other individuals have done, Nye and Armitage guided a bilateral relationship, creating a vision, using their knowledge, expertise and connections to bring it to life and then nurtured a generation of scholars, experts and officials who would give it substance and durability. Joe Nye will probably be most remembered for conceptualizing the notion of 'soft power,' the ability of a country to win the hearts and minds of others through its culture and values rather than coercion, but he worked and wrote on a variety of issues and topics. He and political scientist Robert Keohane are credited with founding the international relations theory of liberal institutionalism, which argues that cooperation between states is feasible and can reduce competition and is one of the two leading fields in that discipline. While Nye was invariably introduced as 'Harvard professor,' he served several times in government, in the Departments of Defense and State and as chairman of the National Intelligence Council. Intimate knowledge of how power actually flowed through those buildings informed his work and his thinking. It also explained why he was recognized as one of the most influential international relations scholars of his time and one of the most influential scholars in American foreign policy. Armitage had an equally distinguished record of government service, serving too in the State Department, Pentagon and as special envoy to Jordan and Central European states in the aftermath of the breakup of the Soviet Union. Armitage Associates, his consulting firm, helped governments in those regions build military capacity to address changing security realities. Joseph S. Nye Jr. meets with then-Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada in Munich, Germany, in February 2009. | JIJI Nye authored the Nye Report, a 1995 initiative launched during his tenure as assistant secretary of defense for international affairs in the Clinton administration. It famously warned that 'security is like oxygen: You do not tend to notice it until you begin to lose it.' It provided an anchor for the U.S. military presence in Asia at a time of geopolitical churn. Concern that its message of partnership with Tokyo was being abandoned amid Japan's economic woes — the country was halfway through its first 'lost decade' — and the rise of China — then U.S. President Bill Clinton famously visited China for 10 days in 1998 and returned home without visiting Japan, prompting the notion of 'Japan passing' — Nye teamed up with Armitage to head a group of experts who pleaded for bipartisan support for the Japan-U.S. alliance before the 2000 presidential election. The tone of the message shifted over the six Armitage-Nye reports issued between 2000 and 2024. The first were akin to wish lists for Japan, urging Tokyo to break out of its self-imposed reticence and assume a more prominent security role in the region, both on its own and in partnership with the United States. When several of its members joined the George W. Bush administration, Armitage among them (he served as deputy secretary of state) they were well placed to push that agenda. By the time the last report was issued, the emphasis had shifted. The authors applauded Japan's resurgence and commitment to protecting the regional order and their concern then focused on a seeming readiness of the U.S. to abandon the principles and policies that had secured regional peace, prosperity and stability. Less visible, but no less important, was participation by Nye and Armitage (after his last job in government) in the track 1.5 Japan-U.S. security seminar that Pacific Forum co-hosted with the Japan Institute for International Affairs, a project that I ran for over a decade and, in retrospect, laid out a blueprint for the alliance that was eventually adopted. At those meetings, I observed firsthand their commitment to the alliance, their work to promote the partnership and the incredible regard that participants from both countries had for them. My former boss, Ralph Cossa, likes to tell how, when he pressed a senior Japanese official to reconcile the man's call for Armitage to speak out on a particular issue with Tokyo's disdain for gaiatsu (foreign pressure), the official replied, 'when other Americans say things it's gaiatsu, but when Armitage says it, it's gospel.' (For the record, Armitage and Nye were the honorary co-chairmen of the Pacific Forum's International Advisory Board, where Cossa was president and I was executive director.) At those meetings, I also saw their readiness to build an enduring partnership across generations. While the conferences included the major figures in both countries who worked on the alliance — both scholars and officials — Nye and Armitage invariably made time for our young fellows, setting aside meetings just for them to field questions and share perspectives. Those insights transcended the dry offerings typical of such conversations and instead drew on personal experiences that offered understanding of how such relationships really work. Their good humor, unflagging optimism and commitment to building a stronger Japan-U.S. alliance continues to shape that partnership. It's evident not only in the documents that bear their names, but in the inspiration they provided to a generation of scholars and experts who have assumed positions of influence in this vital partnership. Brad Glosserman is deputy director of and visiting professor at the Center for Rule-Making Strategies at Tama University as well as senior adviser (nonresident) at Pacific Forum. His new book on the geopolitics of high tech is expected to come out from Hurst Publishers this fall.
