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France–Indonesia relations

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France and Indonesia established diplomatic relations in 1951.[1] The indirect relationship between France and Indonesia commenced during the early 19th century colonial Dutch East Indies. Since 2011 France and Indonesia have formed a strategic partnership.[2]

French–Indonesian relations
Map indicating locations of France and Indonesia

France
Indonesia
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Indonesia, ParisEmbassy of France, Jakarta

France has an embassy in Jakarta while Indonesia has an embassy in Paris. The relations between the two nations are important as both are democratic republics and each holds significant geopolitical influences in its respective region. France is a key member of the European Union, while Indonesia is a core constituent of ASEAN. The diplomatic relations between France and Indonesia are a key element for developing relations between Indonesia and the European Union and between France and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.[3] Both nations are the member of G-20 major economies.

According to a 2013 BBC World Service Poll, 56% of Indonesians view France's influence positively, with only 14% expressing a negative view. This is one of the most favourable perceptions of France in the Asia-Pacific, only lagging behind more positive views by South Korea and Australia.[4]

History

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The indirect relationship between France and Indonesia commenced during the early 19th century colonial Dutch East Indies. During the Napoleonic Wars, the Netherlands fell to the French Empire, which also seized territorial possessions belonging to the Netherlands in the East Indies. For a short period between 1806 and 1811, Indonesia was subject to French administration.[5] During the reign of Governor General Herman Willem Daendels (1808–1811), France exercised its political influence in the East Indies through the Dutch Republic. Daendels was Dutch Francophile, and during his reign in Java he built a grand palace known as Het White Huis (The White House) or Het Groote Huis (The Big House), today the Indonesian Ministry of Finance building, that demonstrate French Empire style.[6] He also renamed the Buffelsveld (buffalo field) to Champs de Mars (today Merdeka square). The battle for Java was fought between British and French-Dutch Republics during Anglo-Dutch Java War in 1811.

The French Revolution and its Republic government also inspired the later Indonesian nationalist movement in the early 20th century. The political concept of the Republic of Indonesia was partly influenced by the Republic of France model. Indonesia also adopted the Napoleonic Continental legal system through Dutch intermediary. Indonesian law is often described as a member of the 'civil law' or 'Continental' group of legal systems found in European countries such as France and the Netherlands.[7]

High level visits

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Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris in December 2009. Both nations agreed to form a strategic partnership in 2011.[8] In July 2011, France's Prime Minister François Fillon and his entourage visited Jakarta.[9] At 29 March 2017, French President Francois Hollande made a historic visit to Indonesia.[10]

During the G20 2022 meeting in Bali, French president Emmanuel Macron and Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo alongside Indonesian Ministry of Defence Prabowo realized the major military and investment procurement for Indonesia and France.[11][12]

Economic relations

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The relationship between France and Indonesia is multifaceted, encompassing development cooperation, robust economic and commercial ties, and cultural exchanges. The long history of collaboration and the presence of French companies in Indonesia underscore the importance of this bilateral relationship, which continues to evolve and strengthen over time.

Historical Background and Development Cooperation

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France has maintained a development cooperation program with Indonesia for many years. For thirty years, between 1967 and 2007, France provided aid to Indonesia within the international coordination arrangements established under Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia and the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI). During the period when the CGI was active (1992-2007), annual meetings were often held in Paris, facilitating close coordination and collaboration between the two nations on developmental projects.

Economic and Commercial Relations

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The Indonesian French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) was established in 1986 to develop and foster economic, commercial, and financial relations between France and Indonesia.[13] This organization has played a pivotal role in enhancing bilateral trade and investment.

In 2011, bilateral trade between France and Indonesia amounted to approximately US$2.5 billion. France has emerged as the 13th largest investor in Indonesia, reflecting a strong economic partnership.[9] Indonesian imports from France include a diverse range of products such as aircraft equipment, machinery and computers, electronic and precision equipment, chemicals, cosmetics and perfumes, food, metals and metallurgical products, and pharmaceuticals. Conversely, France imports agricultural, silvicultural, and fishery products, as well as textiles and footwear from Indonesia.

French Companies in Indonesia

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Currently, about 100 French companies operate in Indonesia, contributing significantly to the local economy and providing various goods and services. Notable French companies in Indonesia include:

  • Total: An oil and gas company.
  • Michelin: A leading tire manufacturer.
  • AXA: A multinational insurance firm.
  • Eurocopter: A division of Airbus Helicopters, providing aerospace solutions.
  • Air France: The national airline of France.
  • Carrefour: A major retail corporation.

These companies play a crucial role in strengthening the economic ties between the two countries by investing in various sectors and creating employment opportunities in Indonesia.

Cultural and Diplomatic Exchanges

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Beyond economic cooperation, France and Indonesia also engage in cultural and diplomatic exchanges. These exchanges foster mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of both nations. Educational programs, cultural events, and diplomatic visits are some of the ways in which France and Indonesia continue to build a strong bilateral relationship.

Culture

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The objective of French cultural cooperation action is to support Indonesia's development as a new emerging country. Accordingly, it gives priority to research (rural development, aquaculture, volcanology, geophysics, and archaeology), university exchanges, primarily in the fields of technology and biological sciences, vocational training, support for strengthening the rule of law and democratic governance. Which includes legislative technical assistance, fight against terrorism and corruption, decentralization, human rights training. The implementation of quality cultural actions, such as through the "French Springtime" (Le Printemps Français) cultural festival and audiovisual policy.

France also has established Institut Français in Indonesian cities of Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surabaya, a French cultural center with the mission to promote French culture in Indonesia through cultural performances and exhibitions, film and mediatheque.[14]

Language

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The culture-linguistic relations between Indonesian and French were conducted through Dutch, as evident in Indonesian loanwords from French that mainly political or military terms, such as kudeta (from coup d'état), legiun (from légion) and letnan (from lieutenant).

Institut Français Indonesia also offering French course for Indonesian students.[14]

Archaeology

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Based on the expertise of the Advisory Board on Archaeological Research Abroad, the Foreign Affairs Ministry (DGCID) subsidisies the following archaeological missions in Indonesia:

  • Borneo: Diachronic study of uses and Rock Art in the caves and rock shelters of East Kalimantan
  • Java 01: A prehistoric site from the upper Pleistocene period
  • Java 02: The first populations on the Indonesian archipelago
  • Tapanuli

Music

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In art and musics, France and Indonesia has mutual cultural ambassador, Anggun an Indonesian French-naturalised singer-songwriter, is popular in both France and Indonesia.[15][16]

Current issue

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Capital punishment

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In 2015, a French citizen Serge Atlaoui, is facing deathrow in Indonesian prison.[17] During the raid on a factory producing ecstasy in Tangerang, in 2005, the Indonesian police busted Atlaoui there. He was subsequently convicted in 2007 for the possession of 138 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 290 kg of ketamine and 316 drums of precursor substances. Atlaoui has repeatedly denied the charges; saying that he was installing industrial machinery in what he thought was an acrylics factory.[18]

On 22 April 2015, French President Francois Hollande warned Indonesia that the execution would damage the relations between the two nations.[19] Atlaoui was spared from the execution on 29 April 2015, and currently, his sentence is being postponed.[20] France is strongly opposed to the death penalty in any place and in any context, not only when the life of a French national is at stake. France has been abolitionist since 1981.[2] Diplomatic relations are described as 'normal' despite the Atlaoui case.[18]

Defense Ties

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After France and Australia heated relations with AUKUS debacle, France moves closer with Indonesia for the security of Indo-Pacific Region and also sells 42 Dassault Rafale fighters alongside Scorpene submarine's.[21][22][23]

Resident diplomatic missions

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  • France has an embassy in Jakarta.
  • Indonesia has an embassy in Paris.
  •  
    Embassy of Indonesia in Paris

See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ "France celebrates Bastille Day in iconic style". The Jakarta Post. Jakarta. 15 July 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Interview de Mme l'Ambassadeur au Jakarta Post le 16 décembre 2014". Ambassade de France à Jakarta. 16 December 2014.
  3. ^ "France and Indonesia". France Diplomatie. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  4. ^ 2013 World Service Poll Archived 2015-10-10 at the Wayback Machine BBC
  5. ^ Asvi Warman Adam. "The French and the British in Java, 1806–15". Britannica.
  6. ^ Heuken, Adolf (2000). Historical sites of Jakarta. Jakarta: Cipta Loka Caraka. pp. 199–200.
  7. ^ Timothy Lindsey, ed. (2008). Indonesia, Law and Society. Federation Press. p. 2. ISBN 9781862876606. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  8. ^ Erwida Maulia (16 December 2009). "RI, France agree on 'unlimited' strategic partnership". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  9. ^ a b Retno L.P. Marsudi (5 July 2011). "Fillon's visit and quality France-RI relations". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  10. ^ "First Visit to Indonesia by French President in 30 years". The Peninsula Qatar. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017..
  11. ^ Maulana, Gibran. "Prabowo Akrab dengan Macron di Sela Pembahasan Pertahanan RI-Prancis". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  12. ^ "Jokowi Bertemu Macron, Bahas Proyek Senjata hingga Teknologi". Bisnis.com (in Indonesian). 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  13. ^ "Who we are, What we do". Indonesian French Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Archived from the original on 2015-11-02. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  14. ^ a b "Institut Français Indonesia". Institut Français Indonesia. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  15. ^ "Anggun". Eurovision.
  16. ^ Liam Clark (May 28, 2014). "Anggun wins World Music 2014 award". escExtra.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  17. ^ "Indonesia rejects French death row convict Serge Atlaoui clemency". BBC. 22 June 2015.
  18. ^ a b Dylan Amirio (5 May 2015). "France-RI relations 'normal' despite Atlaoui case". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  19. ^ "France warns Indonesia against executing French citizen". Channel News Asia. 22 April 2015. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  20. ^ "The inmates executed or spared by Indonesia". BBC. 29 April 2015.
  21. ^ Hummel, Tassilo; Widianto, Stanley (2022-02-10). "France seals $8.1 billion deal with Indonesia to sell 42 Rafale jets". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  22. ^ "Macron says France advancing cooperation with Indonesia on warplanes and submarines". Reuters. 2022-11-17. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  23. ^ "Indonesia to receive six Rafales by 2026". Janes.com. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
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