28/08/2013 (News.Az) - News.Azinterviews Prayono Atiyanto , Ambassador of Indonesia to Azerbaijan.

Which sectors do Azerbaijan and Indonesia cooperate in? What does Indonesia export and Azerbaijan import?

Indonesia and Azerbaijan have developed a cordial and friendly relation for more than 20 years. The relation which is based on mutual respect of each other sovereignty, and territorial integrity is recognized by the international community and law. Indonesia and Azerbaijan also have strong relations in international forums such as the United Nations, the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Therefore, in my view, our two countries should transform the exiting political proximity into economic and social cultural proximities.

Crude oil constitutes the biggest part of Indonesia’s import from Azerbaijan. In 2012, Indonesia’s import of crude oil from Azerbaijan made approximately US$ 1,7 billion. This is due to the fact that Indonesia’s own oil production is not sufficient to meet the domestic consumption for Indonesia’s population of 240 million people. Indonesia’s export to Azerbaijan is still very small and mostly consists of palm oil and paper products. This is the reason why we want to increase our export to Azerbaijan.

What areas can be developed between the two countries?

As I mentioned earlier we need to further develop and expand our cooperation in the economic and social and cultural field. We need to promote direct trade relations between our two countries. We need to promote more contacts between our entrepreneurs including young entrepreneurs. We need to establish direct flight between Baku to Jakarta or Denpasar in Bali. We can also further develop cooperation in information technology, education and energy sectors. Tourism is also an area that needs our attention.

Indonesia and Azerbaijan can share their culture and traditional music. The experts and artists of our two countries can exchange their experience concerning the Azerbaijan traditional music “Mugam” and Indonesian traditional music “Angklung”. Besides that I want also to see the Indonesian jazz musicians perform in Baku or the Azerbaijani jazz musicians perform in Jakarta. I very much believe that culture and music will play an important role  in enhancing people- to - people contact between our two countries.

I would also like to add that Indonesia has similar view with Azerbaijan on the importance of multiculturalism. Indonesia as a country with the biggest Muslim population in the world also believes it necessary to promote interfaith dialogue. We can also promote cooperation in this field.

Another aspect is that Indonesia can also share its experiences and best practices with Azerbaijan on the empowerment of women in development.

Which investment projects does Azerbaijan participates in Indonesia and vice versa?

This is an area that needs our attention in the days ahead. We need to promote contacts between our two business communities so as to enhance investment cooperation. There is an opportunity for Azerbaijani businessmen to invest among others in energy and infrastructure in Indonesia. At the same time I hope there will also an opportunity for the Indonesian businessmen to invest or establish joint cooperation in energy, tourism and food industries in Azerbaijan.

Is the Indonesian population informed about Azerbaijan and also about the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as Azerbaijan’s fair position on this issue? What kind of support can Indonesia render to Azerbaijan on this issue?

I know that Ambassador Tamerlan Garayev and the Azerbaijan Embassy in Jakarta have continuously disseminated information about Azerbaijan including Nagorno-Karabakh to the Indonesian communities. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Embassy in Baku also disseminates information about the progress of development in Azerbaijan and the potential and opportunity for cooperation between the two countries to the public and business community in Indonesia. In this regard, we need to further promote people to people contact and cooperation between youth organizations of our two countries. As I also mentioned earlier contacts between musician and artists needs also to be developed.

The official position of Indonesia on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is well-known. We support Azerbaijan territorial integrity as recognized by the international community and international laws. We strongly support the peaceful settlement of the conflict. We want also to see progress of the process of the negotiation sooner than later.

Indonesia as stipulated in its constitution is always ready to contribute to the maintenance of the international peace and security. In this regard, Indonesia can also share its experiences in conflict resolution.   

What  mutual official visits are planned for this year?

A number of the Indonesian high ranking officials have visited Azerbaijan this year. The Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament, Dr. H. Marzuki Alie has paid an official visit to Azerbaijan in April 2013. The Indonesian Minister of Labour also participated at the Meeting of the Minister of Labour of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation in Baku in April 2013. Indonesian members of Parliament also participated at the Annual Conference Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Baku in May 2013 and the 30th Meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) Executive Committee in Baku in June 2013. Indonesian high ranking official has also participated at the International Conference on Strengthening on Cooperation on Preventing Terrorism in Baku in March 2013. High ranking official from the Indonesian Ministry of Defence has also visited Baku this year to discuss the possible cooperation between the two countries.

We hope that the Azerbaijan Minister of Foreign Affairs will be able to attend the 6th Bali Democracy Forum to be held in Bali, Indonesia on 7-8 December 2013.