H.E. Dr. H. Soekarwo, Governor of East Java
Governor of East Java, H.E. Dr. H. Soekarwo, in his speech, declared the Conference officially open

In his speech, H.E. Dr. H. Soekarwo said:

Assalamu’alikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh (May God’s peace and mercy be upon you):

His Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia,
Mr. Dr. R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa;
His Excellency, Dr. Mahathir Muhammad, Honorary President of Perdana Leadership Foundation;
Honourable, Honorary Consul in East Asia Regional Honourable the East Java Leaders Forum (FORPIMDA); Distinguished guests.

Ladies and Gentlemen warmest welcome to you all the participants of 3rd Federation of Consular (FICAC), East Asia Regional Conference (EARC) at Surabaya, the capital city of East Java Province.

Let us praise Allah, the Merciful God, for His blessing we all could gather here in well being.
The Organising Committee of the 3rd FICAC East Asia Regional Consular Conference, after receiving the conference plaque from the Board of the Association of Honorary Consuls to Indonesia (AHCI) – (from left to right): Hon. Reza Abdullah, Hon. J.R. Radjimin, Hon. Linda Irawati Oen, Hon. Djamal G. Basmeleh, Hon. Tjandra M. Gozali, Hon. Onny Asri Miryam, Hon. Anangga W. Roosdiono, Hon. Rahmat Shah, Hon. Sylvia Pangkey, Hon. Sindunata Sambudhi, Hon. Harjanto Tjokrosetio, Hon. Soy M. Pardede, Hon. Sugihono Kadarisman.

I would highly appreciate to Honorary Consul Association in Indonesia to appoint Eat Java, for 3rd Federation of Consular (FICAC), East Asia Regional Conference (EARC). This is a right decision!

Ladies and Gentlemen, so far, most of you only know Jakarta as the center of international activities as the capital city of Indonesia, and Bali as the main international tourist destination. Located between those two, East Java has a variety of natural and cultural interests to become a world tourism destination. Infrastructure are available quite well in East Java, for example, direct international flights from Surabaya to some destination countries, such as Hong Kong the Special Administrative Region of China, Guangzhou, Taiwan the Province of China, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam and Saudi Arabia. You could take Jakarta-Surabaya flight for almost every ten minutes.

On economic point of view, East Java economic development quit fascinating, In 2012, the economic growth in East Java reached 7.27%, meanwhile the average national economic growth, for the same period, attained 6.23%. In the first semester 2013, the East Java economic growth reached 6,81%, higher than the national economic growth, for the same period, 5,81% and the inflation is 4,50% whereas national inflation 4.30%.

The balance of trade in 2012 recorded US$56,31 billion for export and US$50,88 billion for import or surplus of US$5,43 billion.
H.E. Dr. H. Soekarwo, Governor of East Java, extended a warm welcome to delegates at FICAC’s 3rd East Asia Conference.
On total investment, in 2012 it reached US$14,35 billion while in 2011 US$11,88 billion or 20,78% increased.

Factors which may drive the increase of the total investment are:

• Simple one stop license service;
• The availability of electricity;
• The Governor/Vice Governor’s facilitation when there is a dispute between the employee and employer;
• Facilitation on land acquisition.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like also to inform you that East Java is as the center for development on trade, industry, services, distribution and logistics, not only for the people of the province, in which the population is 38.052 million inhabitants, but also for the eastern part of Indonesia, such as Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Papua, even Timor Leste, covering more than 120 million people.

Ladies and Gentlemen, to conclude my speech, I would also like to ask the all the participants of 3rd Federation of Consular (FICAC), East Asia Regional Conference (EARC) who are attending this function, to inform the all about East Java to your colleagues and partners as well as enhance the partnership among the nations, especially in Asia.

Once again, welcome to East Java and enjoy the warm hospitality of East Java. I hope to see you again in the next future at other international meetings held in East Java.

Thank you,
Wassallammuallaikum Wr.Wb