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Consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General of India in Medan extends over the islands of Sumatra covering ten of thirty Provinces of Indonesia. The Provinces and their capitals are: Aceh (Banda Aceh) North Sumatra (Medan), Riau (Pekanbaru), West Sumatra (Padang), Jambi (Jambi), Bengkulu (Bengkulu), South Sumatra (Palembang), Lampung (Bandar Lampung), Bangka-Belitung (Pangkal Pinang) and Riau Islands (Batam). These ten Provinces have a total population of approximately 40 million. Medan is the third largest city of Indonesia. Indian Community: During the latter part of 19th century and early part of 20th century, due to the rapid growth of the plantation economy, a large number of Indian labourers were brought to Sumatra as plantation workers. Plantation workers were mostly Tamil speaking Hindus. Other significant segments of Indian community are (i) Muslims from Tamil Nadu (mostly from Porto Novo, now Parangipetta which was a Dutch colony) and Malabar region of Kerala and a lesser number from UP (ii) Traders and farmers from Punjab, mostly Sikh (iii) Sindhi traders and (iv) Chettiar community from Tamil Nadu (originally engaged in money-lending). Of the above groups at present only Tamil, Punjabi (Sikh) and Muslim groups are significant in numbers. The plantation workers from Tamil Nadu had long left the plantations where they were originally employed and had moved into cities.
Present Status: Over the years, persons of Indian origin have well integrated with the local Indonesian community. They are more comfortable with the local language, Bahasa Indonesia, than any other language. However, the predominant Tamil and Punjabi groups still retain their cultural heritage and to some extent, the languages. The Punjabi language is still in use, thanks to the strong religious traditions of the community. There are four sikh gurudwaras in Medan itself and at least three in other places in Sumatra. Out of over 20 temples in existence in the past, approximately 10 are still functional. These gurudwaras and temples have been well managed by their management committees. The recently-formed Perkumpulan Masyarakat India-Indonesia (PMII), i.e. Indonesian-Indian Community Association, Medan has been functioning successfully and takes keen interest in organizing Indian festivals at regular intervals. In 1930, the number of Indians was estimated as 30,000. After the Second World War and after creation of the Republic of Indonesia, the number of Indians in Sumatra had come down due to migration to other parts of Indonesia and partially due to return of some of the Indians back home. Though authentic figures are not available, it is estimated that approximately 40,000 Indians reside in Sumatra, mostly in and around the city of Medan. The provinces of South Sumatra, Jambi, Riau and Aceh have also small communities of PIOs. After independence of Indonesia, growing prosperity of Java, especially Jakarta, prompted many Indians to move out of Medan. Most of the successful trading families, many educated Indians moved to Jakarta. In fact, good number of Indians elsewhere in Indonesia can trace their roots to Medan as their forefathers first moved to Sumatra as the region happened to be closer to India and was offering more opportunities. The Indian community does not suffer from any discrimination. In fact, the local authorities and the local communities, Malais, Bataks and Chinese, perceive Indians as a benign and law-abiding community.
Indian Nationals: Originally, a large number of migrated people were holding Indian passports. According to the statistical year book of Indonesia, in 1977-1978, there were 9964 Indian citizens in Indonesia, out of which 4613 were in Sumatra. Over the years, the number of persons holding Indian citizenship had drastically come down due to acquisition of Indonesian nationality. At present, the number of Indian passport holders is mostly those who have recently come as expatriates. The emerging group of Indian professionals in Sumatra who are employed by various companies and their families is estimated to be around 700. After development of Batam industrial area, over 300 Indian technical workers and engineers are working in companies there. The Pulp & Paper division of Sinar Mas group near Pekanbaru employs about 35. The largest single employer of Indian expatriates in Sumatra is the April Group at Kerinci near Pekanbaru. This industrial complex, which is involved in manufacture of paper and pulp, has a strength of approximately 120 Indians, mostly engineers. About a dozen Indians have been engaged by the pulp & rayon factories at Porsea near Parapat under the same management. Besides, a few representatives of Indian trading companies have been stationed in Padang, Bukittinggi in West Sumatra.
Commercial Matters: Medan is the commercial centre of Sumatra. Belawan, the largest port in Sumatra, is only 20 kms from Medan. The other emerging commercial centers in Sumatra are Batam and Pekanbaru, in Riau and Riau Islands respectively. The Port of Belawan is the exit point for all plantation and forestry products like palm oil, rubber, timber and timber products as well as some products from Aceh.
Sumatra has the largest paper and pulp industry of the world. Riau Adalan Pulp & Paper, a company of April Group, which produces 7000 ton paper grade pulp daily, is located in Kerinci in Riau Province. The April Group also has a plant in Porsea, called Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL), which is about 220 kms. from Medan. The plant produces about 500 ton of rayon grade pulp daily. For supply of raw-material, i.e. timber, the company relies on its own acacia plantation spread over a land area of around 3.5 lakh hectares. RAPP also exports 20,000 ton of pulp every year to India. Considering the fact that India faces shortfall of about 6.5 million tons of pulp every year, RAPP is seriously planning to either set up a pulp plant in India with 1 million ton p.a. capacity or to enter into joint venture with existing producers in India. RAPP is also considering ways to enhance its pulp and paper export to India. The autonomy era has brought great hope for regional prosperity. Apart from the regency-level developmental programmes, inter-provincial developments are also explored. Almost all cities in Sumatra are connected with air links, a Sumatran railway network to some extent and a network of water-ways transportation. The new airport at Kuala Namu near Medan is under construction.
Joint Coordinated Exercises between Indian & Indonesian Navies The navies of two maritime neighbours, India and Indonesia conducts coordinated naval patrol in the Andaman Sea. Besides carrying out patrolling, the ships and aircraft of the two navies also carry combined exercises at sea to improve interoperability. The coordinated patrol is being conducted twice every year under the protocol signed between the two Navies in Aug 2002. The first INDINDOCORPAT was conducted in Sep 2002. These patrols have proved to be mutually beneficial in countering sea robbery, smuggling, poaching and transnational crimes in Andaman Sea.
Recent Trade Events : - A trade delegation from North Sumatra visited India in January 2003. The delegation was led by the Deputy Governor of North Sumatra and included Chairmen of North Sumatra Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Investment Promotion Board, Industry and Trade Affairs of North Sumatra, Tourism Department of North Sumatra, Agriculture Services of North Sumatra, Labour & Transmigration and Information & Communication. The trade delegation also consisted 12 Provincial Legislative members, 7 Mayors/Regents, Rector and lecturers from educational institutions and prominent businessmen. The delegation visited Mumbai (Pharma World Expo 2003), Pune (Pune Expo 2003), Delhi and Agra. They visited TELCO and Bajaj factories. After this visit, import of Bajaj motorcycles and TATA products started appearing in the market. - “Indonesia Specialist Programme’ for Indian tour operators and travel agents was held in Medan from August 17 to 19, 2007. There were 39 travel agents/tour operators, who attended the Programme and were mainly from Gujarat and Maharashtra. The purpose of this Programme was to increase the awareness about Indonesia among Indian masses and to increase the Indian visitors to Indonesia. CGI, Medan, in coordination with Clavin Marketing (India) Pvt. Ltd provided all assistance needed for organizing this event. The Programme was attended by Mr. Parlindungan Purba, Member of Parliament from North Sumatra, Ms. Nurlisa Ginting, Vice-Chairman of Investment Promotion Board of North Sumatra, Mr. Ben Sukma, Head of the Association of Indonesian Tours & Travel, Mr. Tatang Rukhiyat, Director of International Promotion, Indonesian Department of Culture & Tourism, Mr. Batubara, Coordinator, North Sumatra Tourism Board, Mr. Tazbir, Head of Yogyakarta Tourism Board, Mr. Cipta, Dy. Chief of Tourism of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Mr. Maringam Simbolon, Chief of Samosir Tourism Agency. - A delegation from North Sumatra Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NSCCI) has also visited India for ‘Pharma Expo’ organized by Indian Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (PEPC) in Feb. 2008. CGI, Medan coordinated with NSCCI and PEPC in connection with this visit and held various meetings with the concerned representatives of NSCCI. - CGI Medan, in coordination with Embassy of India, Jakarta organized a trade and commercial event in Medan on March 18-19, 2008. The event was attended by about 100 prominent traders, representatives of North Sumatra Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Head of Department of Trade & Industry of North Sumatra etc.
Educational & Cultural Matters:
Many students of Indian origin do avail the educational facilities in India both for school education and college-level education. Many local Indonesians from Sumatra have been availing scholarship facilities being offered by the Indian Government under ICCR scholarship programme. It may also be mentioned that in the past, taking advantage of low cost of education in India, the Islamic University of North Sumatra (UISU) had encouraged their faculty members to do their Masters and Ph.D programmes in India. As a result, there are over 60 faculty members in various departments (especially English department) of UISU and few others institutions in Medan who have educated from India. In June, 2001, the India educated faculty members have formed an Indian Alumni Association as a forum for interaction among themselves and to facilitate further education of aspiring students in India in collaboration with this Consulate.
India has also agreed to assist Indonesia in setting up of a vocational training centre in Aceh, the Tsunami-devastated province of Indonesia. The project is under-construction and is expected to be innagurated by August 2010
CGI Medan, in coordination with Educational Consultants India Limited (EDCIL), a specialized body working under the aegis of Ministry of Education & Culture of India, held educational guidance-cum-counselling session at University of North Sumatra in March 2009. Besides consultants from EDCIL, experts from several prominent Indian Universities also participated. The purpose of the event was to showcase the excellent higher educational facilities in India.
On the cultural front, activities keep on taking place in temples and gurudwaras. Four Sai Baba centers in Medan also retain some Indian cultural elements. Sai Baba’s centers are heavily patronized by the people of Chinese origin.
Following cultural events took place during the period October to December 2009 : Medan : 1. 30 October 2009 : Bhihu Dance from Assam 2. 06 November 2009 : Bharatanatyam from South India 3. 27 November 2009 : Bhangra from Punjab Batam : 4. 28 November 2009 : Bhangra from Punjab 5. 05 December 2009 : Parikarma rock-n-roll band from New Delhi
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