1. SBA News
The SBA Networking cocktail (every 2nd Wednesday every month) will be at Club Macanudo in Shangri-La Hotel, from 19.00 to 21.00 on Wednesday December 9 and we offer free flow of drinks (wine, beer, whiskey, soft drink). The self cost is IDR 150,000 per person. No prior registration needed, just come.
The SBA Business Luncheon will be on Thursday December 3 with Traditional Ärtsoppa and Pancakes. It is as usual at Le Bistro behind Jaya Pub on Jl. Thamrin. The cost is IDR 200,000 per person and you register with Ola Dahlman at medidocola@gmail.com . Welcome.
The Swedish Export Credit Corporation, SEK, has opened a representative office in Singapore
The Swedish Export Credit Corporation, SEK, has just recently opened up a representative office for South East Asia in Singapore. The office is two floors above the Swedish Embassy in Somerset Road 111. Carl Engelberth moved to Asia a few months ago to set up this office, which is the first for SEK outside the Nordic countries. His assignment is for three years. You can reach Carl on mobile +6585225134 or mail carl.engelberth@sek.se .
2. Embassy News
Ambassador Ewa Polano presents her credentials to President Yudhoyono
Friday 6th of November 2009, Ambassador Mrs Ewa Polano to Indonesia met with His Excellency President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Ambassador Polano presented her credentials by which His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, has appointed her to be the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden, to the Republic of Indonesia. After presenting the credentials Ambassador Polano can fully represent Sweden and the EU Presidency in Indonesia.
EU-Indonesia Ministerial Troika and Signature of the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA) in Jakarta
On 9 November Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt headed an EU troika visit to Indonesia. The Ministerial Troika meeting with Indonesia was co-chaired by Mr. Marty Natalegawa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and Mr. Carl Bildt for the EU Presidency. The EU Troika included Mr. Karel Kovanda, Acting Director-General, representing the European Commission, and Ms Helga Schmid, Director of Policy Unit, in the Council Secretariat of EU. Mr. José Eugenio Salarich Fernández-Valderrama, Director General at the Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, also attended as an observer. The agenda included the signing of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Indonesia. This is the first agreement of its kind that the EU has signed in Asia. A human rights dialogue between the EU and Indonesia was also launched at the meeting. Other issues discussed at the meeting included developments in South East Asia and ASEAN, the financial crisis and preparations ahead of the climate summit in Copenhagen. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received, later on in the afternoon of the same day, the Ministerial Troika at the presidential palace.
Indonesia-Sweden Telecom and IT Event in Jakarta
The Embassy of Sweden and the Swedish Trade Council are organising an Indonesia-Sweden Telecom and IT Event in Jakarta, 14-16 December 2009. In conjunction with this event, we are bringing a delegation of Swedish telecom and IT experts, as well as 10-12 Swedish companies of the sector to Indonesia. The event is planned to take place in Jakarta on 14-16 December 2009, and will include customised knowledge sharing sessions with the Indonesian Authority of telecom & IT sector, as well as participation of the main telecom operators and mobile content providers. The Swedish delegation will be headed by Mr. Ulf Berg, President and CEO of Swedish Trade Council, Stockholm and Ms. Charlotte Rylme, Head of Swedish Trade Council, ASEAN and Trade Commissioner based in Kuala Lumpur. Ms. Marianne Treschow, Director General of Swedish Post and Telecom Agency, and Mr. Tomas Bennich, Founder of Swedish Mobile Association and Kista Mobile Showcase - will be the key experts.
3. European News
EuroCham position papers are delayed and are re-scheduled for release by mid-January. They will be presented for selected ministers as usual in the now annual talks with the Indonesian government. Anyone who want to have access to the position papers when they are released, please drop me a mail at (michael_olsson@bmolsson.net) and I will get you a soft copy when it is ready.
4. Security
The increased tension around the legal system, with the "justice mafia" being able to conspire against anyone for money have created a somewhat uneasy situation. Even if this has been a "public" secret for a while, it has been taken to far when it seems like the legal machine has started to use it in their political game. The public reaction has been strong and is rapidly growing. The president has yet to react in a convincing way and therefore this is a security concern. The Century Bank scandal is being dragged in to this as well where the legal uncertainty is used as a reason to make it more than just a legal case. PDI-P is leading the "hunt" and we can see a post-election attempt to change the balance of power in the new cabinet as well as parliament. I will have to raise two warning flags on these facts. The first flag is for coming demonstrations against police, prosecutors office and even the courts. Cases around the country are being questioned and convicts are screaming for retrials and a
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