Page 12 - IDFR-Diplomatic Voice Vol 2 2014

NEWS Indonesian Election: Opportunities for Indonesia and Challenges for the Region that Dr. Farish Noor According to Dr. Farish Noor, as two would shed light on neighbouring countries which are the topic especially bound to be impacted by each other’s after personally jour- success or failure, it would be benefi- neying through Indo- cial for Malaysians to study and under- nesia’s political, cul- stand Indonesia, especially on the tural and historical Indonesian education system, which legacy by spending a has consistently strengthened the considerable number country and raised nationalism among of years doing re- Indonesians. As a country which has search and field work produced millions of young ambitious in Indonesia. graduates and is by itself prosperous with natural resources, Indonesia’s According to him, it is main challenge would now be to stra- important to under- tegise it’s available resources in order On 24 June 2014, IDFR featured one stand Indonesian politics since the to better manage success and stability. of its Distinguished Fellows, Dr. Farish election results would also influence Dr. Farish Noor also observed that A. Noor, in the IDFR Lecture Series Indonesia’s foreign policy. Indonesia had undergone enormous titled, Indonesian Election: Opportuni- socio-economic changes. Decentrali- ties for Indonesia and Challenges for Dr. Farish Noor began his talk by sation has changed the way Indonesia the Region. Dr. Farish Noor is also an expressing hope that Malaysia’s is being governed and has made the Associate Professor at the S. Rajarat- Chairmanship of ASEAN 2015 will local law or perdat (peraturan-peratu- nam School of International Studies, begin on a positive footing by forming ran daerah) of the local government Nanyang Technological University, a stronger multilateral pact among more powerful. Provincial local power Singapore. ASEAN members. Based on data has become more important than compiled through his experience of central power in Jakarta. This concept The programme commenced with travelling to the different parts of the has also extended to the way media welcoming remarks by Dato’ Hussin archipelago and interacting with multi- relations have evolved in Indonesia. Nayan, the Director General of IDFR. level social groups, Dr. Farish Noor The local post or daily has become In his speech, Dato’ Hussin Nayan succinctly described the journey Indo- more important as it is published thanked Dr. Farish Noor for his contin- nesia had experienced during the Post internally covering local news which is uous intellectual contribution and for Suharto Era which had led the country deemed more significant to the local sharing his thoughts and valuable of multiple complexities to become people compared to the national post. insights into current and contempo- one that is stronger and resilient. rary issues. He also expressed hope Economic Diplomacy Series IDFR in collaboration with the World tions (GI) was held on 17 April 2014. under the competent authority or a Trade Institute (WTI), University of Dr. Sufian Jusoh, Senior External trade organisation to ensure proper Bern, Switzerland organised three Fellow from the WTI, University of implementation is taken. series of Economic Diplomacy namely, Bern, Switzerland moderated the Workshop on Community Wealth workshop which was attended by five The Workshop on Bangladesh Trade Creation through Geographical Indica- participants. During the workshop, Policy: Meeting the International Stan- tions (GI), Workshop on Bangladesh participants learned about the dards and Technical Regulations and Trade Policy: Meeting the International overview of GI, GI contributions to Overcoming the Barriers in Interna- Standards and Technical Regulations socio-economic development, inter- tional Trade also was held on 17 April and Overcoming the Barriers in Inter- national legal framework for GI, Malay- 2014 at IDFR. It was attended by nine national Trade and Workshop on sian GI laws and barriers faced trade senior officials from Bangladesh Negotiating International Economic by the GI product exporters. and moderated by Dr. Sufian Jusoh. Agreements. Dr. Sufian Jusoh also emphasised that Among topics discussed in the work- The Workshop on Community Wealth it was important for the local GI entre- shop included International Standards Creation through Geographical Indica- preneurs to register their products and Technical Regulations, how 12 bulletin@idfr.gov.my