Mahesh Saharia first North East personnel to be appointed Honorary Consul

Lt General (Retd) Andi M Ghalib Ambassador of Indonesia assures full cooperation for Eastern India Industry

In his maiden visit after the signing of the historic set of agreements during the visit of Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono worth US $ 15 billion for trade and investment with India, Indonesian Ambassador to India Andi M Ghalib assured the investors and businessmen of Eastern India to take active part in the current burgeoning relation between India and Indonesia. Addressing businessmen, industrialists, investors in a series of meetings with the various leading Chambers of Commerce based in Kolkata, Ambassador Ghalib emphasized on the current geopolitical situation in which with the Look East Policy of the Government of India and the implementation of the ASEAN-India FTA agreement, the trade and investment between India and emerging economic superpower and the largest economy in ASEAN is likely to have many fold increase, informed N Dasgupta, the Executive Assistant of the Honorary Consulate of Indonesia.

Ghalib’s call to investors and businessmen of Eastern India attains significance because during the visit of the Indonesian president as the chief guest of India’s 63rd Republic Day celebrations, there were no participants from this corner of the country even though the scope of discussions covered was very wide, ranging from areas like mining, infrastructure, power, airport, railway up gradation, and others.

Narrating the age-old cultural ties between the two countries, Ghalib called India a cultural super power and went on to explain how Indian culture impacts and influences the daily lives of Indonesians. Earlier he inaugurated the new Honorary Consulate office and introduced Mahesh Saharia as the Honorary Consul of Indonesia. Reading out the proclamation of Commission of appointment by the President of Indonesia and the degree of acceptance by President of India, Ambassador Ghalib praised the competence, ability, integrity and fidelity of Mr Saharia based on which President had issued the appointment.

Mahesh Saharia, the newly appointed Honorary Consul, while accepting the highly prestigious appointment as the first ever person from the North East of India thanked for the confidence reposed upon him by the President of Indonesia Excellency and emphasised on the strategic partnership between India and Indonesia. Saharia explained that there are many similarities between India and Indonesia both emerging as economic powers and yet struggling with large poverty, inflation, infrastructure issues. He mentioned that the resolve by the Government and people to overcome the challenges in both the countries are so strong that both countries are moving forward capitalising on its human and other resources overcoming the obstacles. He urged the industrialists in eastern India and NE India to take due and rightful share in the fast expanding relations with Indonesia and assured all possible assistance as the Honorary Consul of Indonesia.

Ambassador Ghalib accompanied by economic counselor Mr Otto and trade attache Mr Imbang requested the participants to take advantage of the Indonesian Expo scheduled at Jakarta in October and the high-powered CEO Summit scheduled in December, at Bali and further stated that it is his endeavor that we can drive from North East India to Indonesia in future soon.