Fiji and Indonesia established relations on 17 June 1974.[1][2] At that time, the Indonesian mission to Fiji was accredited through the Indonesian embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. On 22 August 2002, Indonesia opened their embassy in Suva.[3] Fiji reciprocated by opening their embassy in Jakarta on 6 April 2011 which is also accredited to East Timor and Singapore.[4]
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Economic relations
editAlthough the trade volume is relatively small with a value of US$36 million in 2007,[5] Indonesia sees Fiji as a potential gate to enter the South Pacific market. According to the Indonesian Center for Statistics, the trade balance was heavily in favor to Indonesia that enjoyed trade surpluses for years. Indonesian exports to Fiji sees increasing trends that reached a total of US$18.63 million in 2006, US$18.74 million in 2007, and US$23.23 million in 2008.[3]
Fijians mainly rely on foreign imports for their daily needs since those are not being produced locally. Fiji mainly traded with Australia and New Zealand, and Indonesia saw this as an opportunity to enter the local market. Indonesian exports to Fiji are mainly daily products such as paper, fiber, textiles, electrical equipments, home appliances and electronics, furniture, gift and craft, fashion products, convenience foods, coffee, shampoo, soap, detergent, plastics, chemicals, automotive and parts, and also agricultural equipments.[3]
Cooperation, education, culture, and assistance
editInitially, the trade sector dominated the relations between the two countries. The two countries, however, have agreed to expand their relations in other sectors, including tourism, business and education. Fiji has sent dozens of their students to study in several Indonesian universities.[5] On 8 January 2014, the Indonesian government donated FJ$1 million (US$528,899) for the formation of the proposed Regional Police Academy at Nasova, Suva. The academy which will be based in Fiji will train police officers from the four Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) countries.[6]
The government of Indonesia organized a cultural diplomacy and collaboration mission entitled "Harmony for the Pacific: Connecting Indonesia and the Pacific through Culture and Shared Heritage" (HfP) in Indonesia (Labuan Bajo and Maumere) and Fiji (Suva) on 9 - 27 September 2024. It partnered with the government of Fiji, the Fiji Arts Council, and the Film Commission of Fiji, demonstrating a closer people-to-people relation. Twenty-four music and dance artists from countries/territories in the Pacific (Fiji, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia) and Indonesia (Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, and provinces in Papua Island) produced two collective works which were showcased to public and dignitaries during the diplomatic reception celebrating 50 years of Indonesia-Fiji bilateral relations.
References
edit- ^ "Sport Diplomacy and State Sovereignty: Case Study on Indonesia's Effort to Guard the Sovereignty of Papua". Jurnal UMS. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ "Bula Vinaka! Today is the 50th anniversary of Fiji🇫🇯 and Indonesia's🇮🇩 friendship". Indonesia Embassy Suva on X. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "Hubungan dan Kerja Sama Bilateral RI-Fiji" (in Indonesian). Indonesian Embassy in Suva. Archived from the original on April 30, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- ^ "Welcome to the Fiji Embassy". Embassy of the Republic of Fiji for Indonesia and Singapore in Jakarta.
- ^ a b "Fiji opens embassy in Indonesia to boost bilateral ties". Xinhuanet. April 6, 2011. Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- ^ Unaisi Vesikula (January 8, 2014). "Indonesia Gives Funds For Proposed Police Academy In Fiji". Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center. Retrieved April 28, 2014.