Indonesia would be lending its cooperation to the State Government to promote tourism in Himachal Pradesh and try to replicate the progress made by it in the field of horticulture and agriculture sector. This was revealed by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in a meeting with the visiting Indonesian Ambassador H.E Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Andi M.Ghalib who accompanied by Andi Murniati Ghalib and Leonard F.Hutabarat, Counsellor of Indonesian Embassy and Dr. Eng. Som Kuswadi, Education Attache. A detailed discussion was held on various issues of mutual interest.
Chief Minister apprised the Indonesian Ambassador about the progress made by the State in various fields so far. He said that Himachal Pradesh had vast tourism potential for the exploitation of which the State Government had adopted open door policy to encourage maximum participation including agencies from abroad. He said that the State Government would welcome investment of Indonesia in Tourism, Horticulture and Agriculture to gain from the experience in those sectors. He said that Education was another sector where Indonesian investment would be welcomed as large numbers of foreign students were studying in different universities located in Himachal Pradesh. He said that Himachal Pradesh was emerging a ‘Knowledge Hub’ in the country keeping in view the best environmental conditions available for academics. He said that the State was promoting international ties and added that Mega Mart was organized in association with Pakistan traders recently in Shimla. He invited HE Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Andi M. Ghalib to visit Himachal Pradesh and also requested to extend invitation on behalf of Himachal Pradesh Government to President of Indonesia to visit Himachal Pradesh during his proposed visit to India.
H.E Lt. Gen. (Retd) Andi M.Ghalib, lauded the progress made by Himachal Pradesh in different sectors and said that India and Indonesia had cultural similarity and added that Ramayana and Mahabharat were very popular in Indonesia even today. He said that all major faiths had originated from India and spread over to farthest corners of the world. He said that Indonesia would be happy to associate itself with Himachal Pradesh in Tourism, Horticulture, Agriculture and Education sectors. He said that with such collaborations international ties would get strengthened between both the countries. He said that the team would be visiting Himachal Pradesh University to explore possibilities of collaboration in Education Sector. He invited Prof. Dhumal to visit Indonesia.
