In an exclusive interview with Indonesian Ambassador, H.E. Suryo Pratomo, reveals historic diplomatic milestones, heartfelt moments, and strategic achievements during President Prabowo’s inaugural state visit to Singapore.
What did you observe about PM Lawrence Wong welcoming President Prabowo at the airport, and what does this gesture mean?
I know a Prime Minister of Singapore has never come to the airport to greet a visiting foreign Leader. So, we are really honoured that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was willing to come to the airport to welcome President Prabowo. It is really the friendliest gesture of Prime Minister Wong to President Prabowo that showed not only the close relationship between the two leaders, but also between our two countries.
How was the Leaders’ Retreat between Indonesia and Singapore prepared, and what role did the Embassy play?
The Embassy is in the front line in the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Singapore Preparation for a Leaders’ Retreat can be divided into two things: substance and proceeding. In any preparation of a visit by the Leader, the Embassy has always led the coordination between officials of the two countries. Preparing a visit, expecially Leaders’ Retreat, is not only about the substance, but also the proceeding which include protocol, agenda, and programme. With the guidelines from our Headquarters in Jakarta, the Embassy communicates all the necessity and requirement for the visit, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore.
What issues did President Prabowo and PM Wong focus on during their discussions?
Leaders’ Retreat has been held annually and it is our highest level mechanism in conducting bilateral relations between two countries. Issues discussed during the meeting between the two Leaders are ranging political to social economic aspects of the bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore, emphazising the need to implement all the agreements. Before leaders retreat, we have ministerial meeting lead by Coordinating Miniter for Economic Affairs of Indonesia Airlangga Hartarto and DPM Gan Kim Yong. Two minister finalized outcome from six working groups who has discussing several issues related with development of Batam, Bintan, Karimun, agriculture, investment, manpower, transportasi, and tourism. The two leaders also exchanged views of the regional and global issues of our common concern.
What was your observation on “Orchid Diplomacy” ?
Orchid diplomacy is Singapore’s soft power diplomacy which is very important in conducting diplomacy globally. Naming an hybrid orchid after a foreign Leader, including President Prabowo, shows and symbolizes Singapore’s openness for a lasting friendship with other countries. We really respect Singapore’s kindest gesture in naming the orchid after President’s mother, Paraphalanthe Dora Sigar Soemitro.
Were there any notable moments of mutual respect or friendship between the leaders, you observed ?
During my almost five year term as the Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore, this Leaders’ Retreat is the best in terms of how Singapore showed its respect and friendship to Indonesia. There are moments where the Leaders showed to the world what a friendship and mutual respect means. One of them of course when you saw Prime Minister Wong greeted President Prabowo in the airport, which is the very first time a Singapore Prime Minister did it. During two days visit, President Prabowo met twice with President Tharman, and three times with PM Wong.
How challenging was it to agree on 19 strategic outcomes between both countries, what how will they contribute to growing opportunities?
The substance and deliverables of a Leaders’ Retreat can be prepared within a year in between Retreats. It covers all of the cooperation areas that were agreed during the previous Retreat and other proposed areas of cooperation in between the meeting. To agree on the 19 strategic outcomes of the meeting, we needed at least one year to negosiate all aspects of the cooperation and then came up with the deals. Two things that make the deals possible, they are: common interest and friendship between our two Leaders.
How did President Prabowo interact with the Indonesian diaspora in Singapore?
When President Prabowo arrived in Singapore, particularly in Fullerton Hotel, there were a hundred Indonesian diaspora greeted him. They enthusiastically waited for the President’s arrival. From the short interaction, we can see how happy President Prabowo interact with the Indonesian diaspora.
What’s the broader significance of this state visit for Indonesia-Singapore relations?
An exchange of visits between Leaders is very important in strengthening a bilateral relations between two countries, as I said, it is the highest mechanism of a bilateral relations. Interaction between Leaders, their close relations, significantly contribute to the strengthening relations between the two countries.
How will this visit impact economic and diplomatic growth for both nations?
Leader’s Retreat is the highest mechanism in our bilateral relations where the two Leaders can meet and talk regularly about the progress of our bilateral cooperation and set the goals for the best of our two countries through cooperation. It is also an opportunity for the Leaders to discuss all issues of common concern and to agree on exploring and conducting cooperation on other areas with common interest. We all know that prosperity of the people is the most important concern for the Leaders. It is within this context that both Leaders’ commitments to pursue a closer cooperation in economic and development growth between the countries become the main purpose of the visit. The two leaders agreed to move forward for next chapter of relationship where we could complementary each others. In the last two years Singapore investment to Indonesia grown 50 percent. Total Singapore FDI to Indonesia is one third of Singapore total FDI to the world and it shows how important Indonesia for Singapore. For Indonesia it has shown Singapore’s confidence on Indonesian economy.
What progress or continuity do you hope to see in the next Leaders’ Retreat, and how will Indonesia-Singapore collaboration address geopolitical uncertainties?
As I said earlier, Leaders’ Retreat is an annual meeting between the Leaders of the two countries. There are so many areas of cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore, however as you are aware everything develops fast. It means although we have cooperate in many areas, there will always be new area that needs cooperation. For example in science and innovation, like AI, machine learning, etc. Both Indonesia and Singapore champion for peace and stability. The two factors contribute to common prosperity and development. In terms of bilateral, we are busy cooperating that we dont have time or even think of fighting. At the least form of addressing geopolitical uncertainties, we share position of expressing view towards the challenges especially in regional level (ASEAN). If we strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and Singapore, we reduce potential conflict for ASEAN, thus we contribute to the stability in ASEAN. If we have good regional stability, we can protect ourselves better amidst the geopolitical uncertainties.
