The Buddhist site of Borobudur in Indonesia (above) is under consideration as a sister city to Myanmar’s Bagan, to help boost tourism to both countries.

INDONESIA and Myanmar are sister countries that should develop their trade, cultural and economic links – that was the message from a seminar on trade and tourism between Indonesia and Myanmar held on June 23.

The seminar, held at Yangon’s Traders Hotel, discussed further enhancing trade, commercial relations and tourism cooperation between the two countries – which could even lead to “twinning” Bagan with the famous Buddhist site of Borobudur, with eventual direct air links.

“When you look at how small the volume of trade and tourism is between the two countries, I think it’s time to discuss how to improve the situation,” said Indonesia’s ambassador to Myanmar, Mr Sebastianus Sumarsono.

“There is no direct banking or transportation link, something that could create multiplier effects to our mutual benefit on the lives of our two peoples. By conducting this economic seminar, I hope we can exchange views on the best way to promote Indonesia-Myanmar economic relations,” Mr Sumarsono told seminar participants.

He said the two nations had a history of cooperation in politics, the economy, socio-cultural matters and defence and security. Indonesia considered Myanmar an independent partner, as shown by the treaty of friendship signed in 1951, and were approaching the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Indonesia had also extended support in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.

“Unfortunately, our trade volume has not reflected this good relationship, and the number of tourist visits between our two countries is also still very low,” said Mr Sumarsono.

He added that trade between the two countries was steadily gathering momentum, citing an increase in person-to-person contacts between Myanmar and Indonesian businessmen, with the encouragement of both governments.

According to official statistics, the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries has been increasing since 2005-2006. U Thein Myint Wai, assistant director in the directorate of trade in the Ministry of Commerce, said Indonesia’s exports to Myanmar during 2008-2009 amounted to US$210.34 million, while its imports from Myanmar were valued at about $28.35 million.

According to the Myanmar Investment Commission, the total foreign investment in Myanmar as of March 31, 2009, amounted to more than $15 billion, of which Indonesia provided $241.497 million with 12 permitted enterprises. That is 1.54pc of the total foreign investment in Myanmar, putting Indonesia in ninth place.

“There is no cooperation on a bilateral basis in the trade sector between the two countries, and no agreement between Indonesia and Myanmar for the promotion of trade. But both countries are cooperating within ASEAN,” said U Thein Myint Wai.

U Maung Maung Lay, secretary general of the Union of Myanmar Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said Indonesian investment in Myanmar had increased since a joint trade committee was formed in 2007 to improve bilateral trade.

“Indonesia may rank ninth in foreign investment now, but soon I hope it will be first,” he said.

The prospects for tourism between the two countries was discussed by Dr Sapta Nirwandar of Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and by U Htay Aung, head of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar. Of the more than six million foreign tourists that go to Indonesia every year, only about 2500 are from Myanmar.

“Although arrangements for tourism cooperation between Myanmar and Indonesia haven’t been signed yet, the two countries have friendly cooperation in tourism,” he said.

In order to deepen that cooperation, both countries will jointly promote Bali-Ngapali-Ngwe Saung as tourist destinations, promote the famous Buddhism sites Borobudur in Indonesia and Bagan as sister cities, operate direct air links between two countries, and take other joint measures.

Myanmar has already taken the lead on a project to promote Buddhist pilgrimage tours among ASEAN member states and India. U Htay Aung said the exchange of familiarisation visits between the two countries could also help promote tourism in both.

He said to promote Borobudur and Bagan as sister cities, the establishment of an airline link between the two countries would be significant.