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| Doctoral HC UMM, Priyo Iswanto when signing the agreement on the Antigua and Barbuda short visit visa for Indonesian. (Photo: Istimewah) |
Indonesian can now visit without a visa for thirty (30) days to Antigua and Barbuda (AB) countries starting in August 2021. Minister of Foreign Affairs AB, E. Paul Chet Green, signed a short visit visa instrument for Indonesian on Friday (27/8) as a follow-up to the decision of the AB cabinet meeting in November 2019. Meanwhile, they decided to provide short visit visa facilities to all Indonesian citizens visiting the country.
The decision to grant the short visit visa was based on reciprocity and improving bilateral relations between Indonesia and AB. The Indonesian government has provided a short visit visa policy for AB citizens to visit Indonesia, as regulated in the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia number 21 of 2016.
Before signing the instrument for applying short visit visa for Indonesian, Foreign Minister Chet Green said that this short visit visa application was an appreciation to Indonesia and Ambassador Priyo Iswanto for their efforts to increase cooperation between Indonesia and Antigua Barbuda since 2017. Meanwhile, Ambassador Priyo Iswanto, who also holds accreditation for the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, stated that the AB Government's decision was of excellent understanding. "Incentives like this can certainly improve relations and cooperation between the two countries," explained the Ambassador, who received an Honoris Causa Doctorate from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM).
The AB Government is interested in increasing more concrete cooperation with Indonesia in the trade, tourism, agriculture, marine sectors, and education. To strengthen collaboration, the Government of Indonesia has provided capacity building. Mainly in the field of disaster management and offers scholarships for AB students to study briefly in Indonesia.
In addition, recently, the Government of Indonesia has also provided humanitarian grants to support the "Community Connect" project worth IDR 1,274,696,800. The project is part of the "Build Back Better" program launched by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda for areas affected by Hurricane Irma in 2017.
To increase cooperation with Indonesia, the AB Government has also approved the appointment of Mr. Paul E. Ryan as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Saint John's, Antigua. The meeting was by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia on November 8, 2019. Meanwhile, Paul E. Ryan started his duties as honorary consul after receiving a Tauliyah Letter (Exequatur) from the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda acting on Queen Elizabeth II.
With the application of short visit visa for Indonesian by the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, all accredited countries in the working area of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Bogota (Colombia, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and St. Kitts and Nevis) have applied visa-free for Indonesian.
Antigua and Barbuda is an island nation of about 95,000 people located in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The archipelago is part of the Lesser Antilles Islands. Guadeloupe borders it to the south, Montserrat to the southwest, Saint Kitts & Nevis to the west, and Saint Barthelemy to the northwest. Indonesia and Antigua & Barbuda started to open diplomatic relations on September 23, 2011. Indonesia views Antigua and Barbuda as essential partners in the Caribbean region.(apg/wil)
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