Indonesian Ambassador Presents Letter Of Credence To S Korean President

JAKARTA, July 19 (Antara) - Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea Umar Hadi presented his letter of credence to South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Cheong Wa Dae Palace in Seoul on Tuesday. Hadi was accompanied by his wife Siti Nila Purnama, his daughter Ratna Aini Hadi, as well as Defense Attaché Marine Colonel Oka Wirayudha and Coordinator of Political Function of the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, Tudiono, a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Tuesday. He also delivered an invitation from President Joko Widodo to his South Korean counterpart, who was recently elected in May, to visit Indonesia. South Korea has been a strategic partner of Indonesia since 2006. During his new term as an ambassador, Hadi reaffirmed the commitment of Indonesia to strengthen its strategic partnership with South Korea. Hadi was appointed as ambassador to South Korea by Widodo on March 13 2017. Before the new assignment, Hadi served as the Consul General of Indonesia in Los Angeles (2014-2017), Director of West Europe of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2012-2014), Indonesian Deputy Ambassador in Den Haag (2009-2012), and Director of Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005-2009). Meanwhile, receiving the new Indonesian ambassador, Moon believed that both countries will be able to enhance their bilateral relation, the release stated. In defense cooperation, Indonesia and South Korea have been working together to build three submarines for the Indonesian Navy as well as to transfer its technology to PT PAL, a state-owned shipyard company of Indonesia. Moreover, Indonesia has become the first costumer to order T50 trainer aircraft of South Korea. Both countries are also working together to develop KFX/IFX jet fighters. In economic cooperation, South Korea's investment is the fourth largest to Indonesia, with a value of US$1.0658 billion in 2016. It is also the sixth largest market for Indonesian export goods and the fifth largest importer country to Indonesia. In tourism, around 350 thousand South Korean tourists had visited Indonesia in 2016, while Indonesians visiting South Korea reached 300 thousand in the same year. South Korea has also become home to Indonesian migrant workers. Around 35 thousand Indonesians are working in South Korea, with monthly salaries ranging from Rp20 million-Rp30 million. In education, around 1.2 thousand Indonesian students are studying in universities in South Korea. The number is estimated to increase each year.