Written by Nila Armelia Windasari, Ph.D and Yaney Nurhayanti

The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in collaboration with the Pacific Alliance (PA) conducted a joint-seminar on Friday, April 26, 2019 at Auditorium Labtek XIV SBM Building. The four Pacific Alliance members, Mexico, Peru, Chile and Colombia, represented by each of the country’s ambassadors to Indonesia, attended the event. This organization was initiated in 2011 through the Lima Declaration, Peru.


The event was opened by the Vice Rector for Resources and Organizations, Prof. Dr. Ir. Irawati, who in her speech conveyed the role of ITB as a technology-based campus which plays an important role in the development of the world. ITB is very honoured to welcome the Pacific Alliance seminar as a bridge to build cooperation with countries in Asia.
During the seminar session, each of the country’s ambassadors presented a topic which was in line with the Pacific Alliance vision. At the beginning of the seminar session, H.E. Juan Camilo Valencia, Ambassador of Colombia to Indonesia, explained the history and background of the establishment of the Pacific Alliance. Another speakers were the Ambassador of Chile, H.E. Gustavo Ayares, Ambassador of Mexico, H.E. Armando Álvarez, and H.E. Julio Cárdenas, Ambassador of Peru.
H.E. Armando Álvarez, Ambassador of Mexico, explained about the role and presence of PA in the international community. PA has collaborated with various world regional organizations, such as ASEAN, in facing global challenges and promoting the role of employers in the country’s economic development. They have also made Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia associated PA states.


Ambassador of Peru to Indonesia, H.E. Julio Cardènas explained the Pacific Alliance Strategic Vision in 2030. In general, there are four major objectives to be achieved by PA in 2030. The four objectives are to be more integrated, more connected, more global, and more civic-minded. These goals are also followed by steps or strategic planning that they will take in the future such as promoting open trade, facilitating investment in partner countries, and getting prepared for the risk of disasters. “ITB is an institute that can play a role as a partner in various forms of cooperation, because ITB has many years of experience as an institute of technology, as well as its relationship in dealing with industry 4.0,” said H.E. Julio Cardenas when asked about possible connections between ITB and Pacific Alliance.


H.E. Gustavo Ayares, the Ambassador of Chile to Indonesia, presented a topic about the role of PA in the world of education and the achievements they have achieved so far. One of them is their role in providing scholarships to more than 1,000 students.
As a representative of the Indonesian Government, there was Dr. Iwa Karniwa who served as the Regional Secretary (Sekda) of West Java. He described the advantages that West Java has in various sectors and hoped that the Pacific Alliance can establish cooperation with West Java. “We believe, West Java and Pacific Alliance have the same interest in developing trade in various sectors,” he said while welcoming the Pacific Alliance ambassadors.
Yudo Anggoro, Ph.D., a representative of SBM ITB, also delivered a topic related to economic development taking place in Indonesia. He started his session by explaining the chronology of the economic situation in Indonesia from every government that had served in this country. In his opinion, however, economic conditions are closely related to the role of the government as a policy maker. Yudo Anggoro, Ph.D., who is also a lecturer at the School of Business and Management at ITB, described the potential of investment in Indonesia.


The seminar discussed the potential of cooperation between Pacific Alliance and Indonesia as an associate member. It was not only attended by 200 students and the general public, but also by Kadispora, Head of Culture and Tourism Office of West Java, FEALAC community (Forum for East Asia and Latin America Cooperation), and Head of International Relations study program from several universities in Bandung. The seminar was also attended by speakers from commercial attachés such as Mr. Diego Cifuentes, Director of Commercial Office of Colombia in Jakarta (PROCOLOMBIA), and Mr. Juan Carlos Valdivia, Director of the Commercial Office of Peru in Jakarta (OCEX).


The seminar was closed with a question and answer session between speakers and seminar participants. Then, it ended with a photo session and a friendly gathering event. The Peruvian film screening titled “Viejos Amigos” was also held after the seminar was completed as part of the introduction of Peruvian culture. It is hoped that the joint activities involving universities and Pacific Alliance member countries will expand the cooperation in all fields, not only in the trade sector, which will certainly improve the welfare of countries in Latin America and Asia.