VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Embassy in Sofia is celebrating 68 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Bulgaria at the National History Museum, a museum that records the journey of the Bulgarian nation and state towards democracy.

Quoted by Antara, Indonesian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Albania and North Macedonia, Iwan Bogananta, through an official statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Sofia on Sunday (15/9), said that the occasion was also a momentum to reflect and project closer diplomatic relations that are concrete for the two communities.

Ambassador Iwan further also said that during his four years in charge of the Indonesian Embassy in Bulgaria, the total trade between Indonesia and Bulgaria and the number of Bulgarian tourists to Indonesia increased by almost 50 per cent. Bulgaria has also supported Indonesia in various nominations for a number of positions in international institutions, such as at IMO, ITU, and UNESCO.

Ambassador Iwan Bogananta also claimed to actively echo the focus of the Indonesian Government's programmes; one of which is attracting investment to the new capital, Nusantara -IKN.

The Indonesian Embassy in Sofia facilitated the signing of an investment Letter of Interest (LoI) in the food and beverage sector amounting to US$50 million, equivalent to Rp771 billion, between Bulgarian entrepreneurs and the Indonesian Ministry of Investment in 2023.

Another concrete diplomatic achievement is that as a result of the working visit of the Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy to Bulgaria in June 2023, Bulgaria is designated as a hub for the Indonesia Spice Up the World programme for the European market.

This was then followed up with the facilitation of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Marketing Mission with a total trade agreement of US$3 million equivalent to 46.2 billion rupiah in November 2023.

According to Ambassador Iwan, to support the Golden Indonesia 2045 target, future bilateral relations between Indonesia and Bulgaria will focus on strategic industries, technology and education.

This year's diplomatic reception at the Indonesian Embassy in Sofia was attended by more than 200 guests from the central government, local governments, accomplished business people, education and arts communities, and the Indonesian diaspora in Bulgaria.

The guests were treated to dance performances of West Sumatra and West Kalimantan by Pesona Mawar Nusantara, the strings of Maya Hasan's harp, and the strains of Iskandar Wijaya's violin.