Posts Tagged Indonesia
The Shawshank Redemption
By Fernando Mexia - Columnists , Economy , Juan Palop - 25/01/2010
Juan Palop, continues its Asian blog here
The world rejoiced in the new year applauded the entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between China and the ten countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The media repeated elated that it was the biggest deal for liberalizing the third in population and trade volume.
But I feel that some of the signatory countries have little to cheer about. Especially the emerging economies of Southeast Asia with a large manufacturing sector but occupationally productively weak, like Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines and Indonesia. They are painfully aware that they can not compete with Chinese exports. Complaints have already started to occur. Jakarta, which has gone furthest, announced that he was seeking an extension of one year, but then backed down. During the truce, almost impossible to get it, wished to renegotiate the tariffs of more than 450 products and help local industry to adapt. Read the rest of this entry »
Hope in the epicenter of the tragedy
By Fernando Mexia - Columnists , Juan Palop - 23/09/2009
Juan Palop, continues its Asian blog here
Go around the epicenter of the misfortune of the savage earthquake that struck Indonesia on September 2 the island of Java. Cipatujah, Sukasetia, Cikang Kareng, Tasikmalaya, some names ... a cruel irony of history has made us to put on the map when they are gone. I move with enormous difficulties between what remains standing of the humble villages devastated in the quake.
Path on a crisp, anarchic and unstable wreckage of wood, broken tiles and bricks that just hours ago were houses and now, suddenly, have become tombs. I count the dead by dozens, injured hundreds and thousands, to those who have lost their homes and are sleeping in the open or provided. So dizzy.
But what I have come, over the horror, anguish, arbitrariness and fear, which leaves me deeply admired and allows me to go home clutching a thread of hope, not sunk in distress is the strength Indonesians iron. Read the rest of this entry »








