Cooperative Activities in Indonesia on Science, Technology, and ...

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8. SYMPOSIUM ON INDONESIA: POTENTIAL INDONESIA-U.S.
COLLABORATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Background
In November 1982, M<strong>in</strong>ister Habibie requested that the NRC hold a
symposium <strong>in</strong> Wash<strong>in</strong>gton, D.C., <strong>in</strong> 1983 to serve as a catalyst <strong>in</strong>
br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g together <strong>in</strong>dividuals from the U.S. academic, government, and
<strong>in</strong>dustrial sectors to meet with a number of his <strong>Indonesia</strong>n colleagues.
The symposium would provide an opportunity for participants to look at
potential U.S.-<strong>Indonesia</strong> collaboration <strong>in</strong> areas of major concern to
<strong>Indonesia</strong>. The tim<strong>in</strong>g of the symposium was <strong>in</strong>tended to co<strong>in</strong>cide with
completion of preparations for the government of <strong>Indonesia</strong>'s next
5-year development plan, which beg<strong>in</strong>s April 1984. The areas to be
considered would be selected by the <strong>Indonesia</strong>ns and agreed to by the
NRC as be<strong>in</strong>g the most appropriate for mutual consideration.
Activity Summary
The symposium was held <strong>in</strong> Wash<strong>in</strong>gton, D.C., October 3-5, 1983, under
the jo<strong>in</strong>t sponsorship of BOSTID and the <strong>Indonesia</strong>n M<strong>in</strong>istry of State
for Research and Technology. It was <strong>in</strong>tended to serve as a forum for
exchang<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>formation and identify<strong>in</strong>g opportunities for mutually
beneficial collaboration <strong>in</strong> the follow<strong>in</strong>g areas:
• Mar<strong>in</strong>e sciences
• Postharvest technology, farm mechanization, and agro-<strong>in</strong>dustry
• Industrialization
Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g and mach<strong>in</strong>e tool <strong>in</strong>dustries
Telecommunications and electronics
Land transportation <strong>in</strong>dustries
Energy <strong>in</strong>dustries
At the open<strong>in</strong>g plenary session, participants were welcomed by the
president and the foreign secretary of the National Academy of Sciences.
They were followed by an open<strong>in</strong>g address by the <strong>Indonesia</strong>n ambassador
to the United States and the head of the <strong>Indonesia</strong>n delegation, who
stressed the importance of the topics under discussion to the <strong>Indonesia</strong>n
people and their government. He also described the important role that
the government has played <strong>in</strong> <strong>Indonesia</strong>'s <strong>in</strong>dustrial development by
guid<strong>in</strong>g the plann<strong>in</strong>g and policymak<strong>in</strong>g for future development and provid<strong>in</strong>g
protection from foreign competition.
Other members of the <strong>Indonesia</strong>n delegation then summarized background
papers they had prepared for the next day's work<strong>in</strong>g group
discussions.
On the second day of the symposium, five work<strong>in</strong>g groups were assembled.
With the exception of the mar<strong>in</strong>e sciences group, all participants
met with the deputy chairman for <strong>in</strong>dustrial development, BPPT, for a
short session that focused on <strong>Indonesia</strong>'s <strong>in</strong>dustrial policies and plans
for the com<strong>in</strong>g decade. He outl<strong>in</strong>ed the various conditions that