VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Embassy in Ankara on Friday (Nov 22) inaugurated the Indonesian Community Center (ICC) as a cultural and community center to strengthen Indonesia's relations with Turkey.

Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey, Achmad Rizal Purnama, through the Embassy's statement on Friday (22/11), said the center will be utilized for Indonesian language courses, cultural workshops, and art performances to introduce the richness of Indonesian culture to the Turkish people.

Quoted by ANTARA, Achmad said the center will be an important space for various social and cultural activities, in addition to supporting various activities of the Indonesian diaspora and Indonesian community organizations in Turkey, particularly in Ankara.

The center is also said to be the secretariat of the Indonesia-Turkey Friendship Association, whose members consist of prominent Turkish businessmen and academics committed to strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

Currently, there are around 8,000 Indonesian citizens living in various cities and regions in Turkey. They include students, professionals, and individuals married to local citizens.

In Turkey, the Indonesian diaspora has established a number of organizations, including the Indonesian Student Association in Turkey, which has branches in 18 cities, an association of Indonesian citizens married to Turkish citizens in Ankara, and the Istanbul Indonesian Society.

There are also several Indonesian community organizations that have branches in Turkey, such as the Nahdlatul Ulama Special Branch Turkey, Muhammadiyah Special Branch Turkey, and the Islamic Student Association Special Branch Turkey.

The center will occupy the former Indonesian Embassy office, which was used until 2021, at 10 Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar Street, Çankaya, Ankara.