21 October 2017 — Conference on Indonesian Foreign Policy is an event unlike any other: it discusses in one full day an array of topics related to the titular subject, organized under one unifying theme. It consists of multi-paneled sessions, most happens concurrently. It assembles under one roof tens of experts, from within and outside Indonesia. It draws an audience numbering at thousands (last year it was 6,000): from policymakers to inspiring entrepreneurs, from business people to members of the military, from analysts to press executives, from dignitaries to students. It is, essentially, a festival on foreign policy—the largest-ever.
In celebration of ASEAN 50th this year’s CIFP carried the theme “Win-Winning ASEAN: Conquering Globalization”. Ambassador Dr. Dino Patti Djalal—founder of Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) and initiator of the Conference—remarked that for ASEAN to be better Southeast Asians’ sense of belonging to the Organization must be cultivated. This is a serious concern for ASEAN to address. It is also a concern for non-Southeast Asians; anyone with modest understanding of geopolitics can appreciate the fact that the region holds tremendous potentials beyond mere large market.
The Saturday’s event was attended by no less than 100 ambassadors, foreign officials, political figures, governors, mayors, and academics; around 80 of whom spoke or moderated. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mdm. Retno Marsudi, as well as her predecessor Dr. Marty Natalegawa, made available the time to record remarks for the event.
Five Iuliants—naturally of the International Relations (INR) major—were seen among members of the volunteer corps. CIFP is known to involve college students in event management; recognizing the one-of-a-kind exposure, experience and, ultimately, enrichment that an event of this magnitude offers to the youth.
Although IULI was not the only campus whose students were involved, INR students’ presence in the Conference has its own story. It was the result of two preliminary sessions with Amb. Djalal: one involved International Relations Dept. Chairs from several universities (IULI’s included), the other with the whole INR student body in the form of a distinguished lecture.
As always INR students’ performance did not disappoint. Whether it is ushering, documenting, or liaising (ambassador, mayor, celebrity), each did their duty seriously while not forgetting to enjoy the atmosphere and ongoing discussions.
IULI International Relations Department thanks FPCI for the opportunity to be involved in CIFP. The Department also thanks its students for the efforts they had devoted throughout and prior to the Conference. (SaK)
Some notable speakers in CIFP 2017 (listed in no particular order):
- H.E. Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, FPCI Founder
- Zulkifli Hasan, Chairman, People’s Consultative Assembly
- Lt.Gen. (Ret.) Prabowo Subianto, Chairman, GERINDRA Party
- Prof. Hasjim Djalal, Senior Diplomat
- H.E. Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister for Youth and Sports, Malaysia
- H.E. Rubem Antonio Correa Barbosa, Head of Mission, Embassy of Brazil
- H.E. Peter MacArthur, Head of Mission, Embassy of Canada
- H.E. Rasmus Kristensen, Head of Mission, Embassy of Denmark
- H.E. Vincent Guerend, Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union
- H.E. Pitchayaphant Charnbhumidol, Head of Mission, Royal Thai Embassy
- H.E. Zurab Aleksidze, Head of Mission, Embassy of Georgia
- H.E. Anil Kumar Nayar, Head of Mission, Embassy of Singapore
- H.E. Federico Salas Lofte, Head of Mission, Embassy of Mexico
- H.E. Dr. Trevor Matheson, Head of Mission, Embassy of New Zealand
- H.E. Michael Freiherr von Ungern-Sternberg, Head of Mission, Embassy of Germany
- H.E. Mohammad Aqil Nadeem, Head of Mission, Embassy of Pakistan
- Bradley Armstrong, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of Australia
- Charles-Henri Brosseau, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of France
- Leung Kwan Ho, Director, Hong Kong Trade Development Council
- Dr. Andi Widjajanto, Senior Advisor, Presidential Staff
- Thomas Lembong, Chairman, Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board
- TGH M. Zainul Majdi, Governor, West Nusa Tenggara
- Bima Arya Sugiarto, Mayor, City of Bogor
- Ramdhan Pomanto, Mayor, City of Makassar
- Prof. Kishore Mahbubani, Dean, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
- Prof. Dr. Dewi Fortuna Anwar, Research Professor, Indonesian Institute of Sciences
- Prof. Aleksius Jemadu, Dean, Universitas Pelita Harapan
- Dr. Evi Fitriani, International Relations Dept. Chair, University of Indonesia
- René L. Pattiradjawane, Senior Researcher, Centre for Chinese Studies
- Dr. I Made Andi Asana, Lecturer, Geodetic and Geomatic Engineering Dept., Gadjah Mada University
- Aaron L. Connelly, Research Fellow, The Lowy Institute
- Kotaro Tamura, Asia Fellow Chairman, The Milken Institute
- Christine Tjhin, Senior Researcher, Centre for Strategic and International Studies
- Col. Triadi Murwanto, Commander of Peacekeeping Operations, PMPP TNI
- LTC. Singgih Pambudi, Deputy Commander Group D, Presidential Guard
- M.Sgt. Esti Nurindah, UNIFIL
- Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, Editor in Chief, ANTARA News
- Endy Bayuni, Editor in Chief, The Jakarta Post
- Alfito Deannova, Anchor, CNN Indonesia
- Step Vaessen, Senior Journalist, Al Jazeera
- Usman Hamid, Director, Amnesty International Indonesia
- Wishnutama Kusubandio, CEO of NET Mediatama Televisi
- Erik Meijer, President Director, Telkom telstra
- William Tanuwijaya, Founder & CEO, Tokopedia
- Chelsea Islan
- Andini Effendi
- Michella Putri
- Stephanie Yoe
- Maria Selena
- Triana Krisandini