“Our expectations and plans are to increase bilateral trade to 10 billion dollars in the coming years as G-20 member countries,” said Turkish Ambassador to Jakarta Talip Küçükcan.
Küçükcan told AA correspondent that the relations between Turkey and Indonesia are based on solid and strong foundations.
Noting that Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Indonesia’s independence and this situation reinforced the friendship, Küçükcan said that in 2025, the two countries will celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and in this context, important steps will be taken to improve the existing relations on historical and current issues.
Pointing out that there has been a significant increase and positive developments in economic relations between the two countries in recent years, Ambassador Küçükcan said, “As of today, the trade volume between Turkey and Indonesia is around 1.5 billion dollars. But our expectations and plans are to increase bilateral trade to 10 billion dollars in the coming years as G-20 member countries. Many works are being carried out for this.”
Emphasizing that relations in the fields of education, culture and trade are in good condition, Küçükcan continued as follows:
“Today, 4,500 Indonesian students are studying in our universities in Turkey. This is a huge resource for Turkey both in terms of soft power and economic return. Recently, with the support of the Maarif Foundation, we established the Turkey Studies Center within the University of Indonesia. This center will contribute to the research on Turkey in Indonesia, the creation and dissemination of information resources on Turkey. This was actually realized with the positive view of the Indonesian Government. Our plan is to start a graduate program on Turkey in the same place next year. This will not only increase the number of experts on Turkey, but also increase the accumulation of knowledge between the two countries.”
Küçükcan said that the Yunus Emre Institute in Indonesia, which was established a year ago, is too busy and busy to meet the demands for Turkish education and courses.
Underlining that there is great interest in Turkish lessons and culture in Indonesia, Küçükcan said, “Almost all of our TV series are also watched here. This is a fact that supports, strengthens and deepens the cultural relations between the two countries. In this respect, it would be good to have some scenarios and productions that include Indonesia in our cultural products.”
Intense interest in Turkey’s defense products
Küçükcan mentioned that one of the strongest relationship networks between the two countries is the defense industry, and said that Indonesian officials closely follow the defense industry products in Turkey.
Ambassador Küçükcan said, “Turkey’s technological breakthrough in the last 20-30 years, the serious reduction of foreign dependence in the defense industry and the reliance on own resources cause Turkey to be taken as an example. There is a very serious interest and demand for Turkey’s defense products in Indonesia. We hope that this will become more concrete in the coming years. The strategic partnership between the two countries will increase.”
Reminding that a “High-Level Consultation Council” was established between Turkey and Indonesia at a summit held in Bali in 2022, Küçükcan said that this council will convene in the first quarter of 2025 and that the presidents and ministers of the two countries will come together here.
Küçükcan said, “Many agreements will be made between the two countries in the fields of politics, economy, culture, security, technology and education, and many projects will be put forward. We think that the relations between the two countries will continue to get much stronger in the coming years.”
