Turkiye Indonesia Relations – TBC | Turkiye Business Center

Indonesia / Turkiye Indonesia Relations

Turkey has close and multifaceted relations with Indonesia. Due to historical ties, there have been always friendly relations between Turkey and Indonesia. At the 16th century, the Sultanate of Aceh had asked the Ottoman Empire’s assistance against Portuguese aggression. Ottoman support to Aceh back then marks the beginning of official relations between two countries.

The increase of mutual top-tier visits since 2004 has accelerated the relations. As a result of the joint declaration “Turkey and Indonesia: Towards an Enhanced Partnership in a New World Setting” signed in Jakarta in April 2011, our bilateral relations have been increased to a strategic partnership level.

Following the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster, the then-Prime Minister Mr. President visited the disaster-hit Banda Aceh region of Indonesia on 6-7 February 2005. The benevolence of our people due to the tsunami disaster has further strengthened the existing ties between the people of the two countries.

Mr. President Erdoğan made an official visit to Indonesia between 30 July-1 August 2015. Within the scope of this visit the Turkish-Indonesia Business Forum was held on August 1, 2015 and a Memorandum of Understanding, with a view to strengthen bilateral relations in the fields of trade, investments and technology, was signed between the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN).

Turkey and Indonesia closely cooperate in a number of international organizations and fora, like the UN, OIC, G-20, D-8, and MIKTA.

Indonesia is one of the founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Since July 2017 Turkey is a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN, and since 2010 the Turkish Embassy in Jakarta has been accredited to ASEAN.

Indonesia is the largest economy in South-East Asia, and projected to become one of the top 10 global economies by 2030. Indonesia’s dynamic population, growing middle-class and strong economic potential serve as a firm basis for further developing our bilateral trade relations.

Currently some 2400 Indonesian citizens reside in Turkey, while some 400 Turkish citizens have their permanent residency in Indonesia. Turkish government has hitherto allocated 815 higher education scholarships to Indonesian citizens since 1992. In the 2016-2019 academic year, Turkey provided 158 scholarships to Indonesian students within the scope of “Turkey Scholarships”.

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

Turkey recognized the Republic of Indonesia on 29 December 1949 and diplomatic relations were established in 1950.
Turkish Embassy to Indonesia commenced its activities on 10 April 1957.
Its field of activity is all Indonesia and East Timor, where it has been accredited since 2003.
The Office of the Commercial Counsellor was opened in April 2007.
Our Honorary Consulate in Medan has been serving since May 1996.
Studies are underway to open our Honorary Consulates in other important regions of Indonesia.

POLITICAL RELATIONS

Indonesia is an important partner for our country in developing bilateral political and commercial relations with the Asia-Pacific region.

As a result of the joint declaration “Turkey and Indonesia: Towards an Enhanced Partnership in a New World Setting” signed in Jakarta in April 2011, our bilateral relations have been increased to a strategic partnership level.

Mutual visits at the Presidency level took place in 2010 and 2011 accelerated our bilateral relations.

Due to historical ties, there have been always friendly relations between Turkey and Indonesia. Despite their geographical distance, Indonesia and Turkey have established close relations in the fields of economy, politics, culture and education.

In order to develop cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries, Turkey-Indonesia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group was established within the Turkish Parliament on 15 June 2000 and Indonesia-Turkey Bilateral Cooperation Group was established on 26 June 2000 under the House of People’s Representatives of Indonesia. The parliaments of the two countries continue to cooperate within the framework of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the “Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA)”.

RELATIONS IN EDUCATION, CULTURE AND TOURISM

The Cultural Cooperation Agreement dated 1973 forms the basis of our bilateral cultural and educational relations.

Under the Turkey Scholarship programs, dozens of Indonesian students are granted undergraduate and doctoral scholarships each year.

Within the scope of the foreign student scholarship program called “DARMASISWA” in Indonesia, scholarships are provided to students from nearly 50 countries, including Turkey as well, to study Indonesian language, art, history and music.

In recent years, intensive cultural events and publications that have been carried out in Indonesia for the promotion of Turkey have made the country quite visible to the Indonesian public.

In addition, Turkish TV series, the visibility and popularity of which are increasing day by day in Indonesian TV channels, play an important role in the promotion of our country.

Touristic relations are also rapidly developing between the two countries.

Turkish Airlines flights to Jakarta and Bali have an important role in the development of our bilateral touristic relations.

Approximately 400 Turkish citizens live in Indonesia. These Turkish citizens living there are generally composed of business people, university students studying in Indonesia and people who settled in Indonesia by marrying Indonesian citizens.

Approximately 2,700 Indonesians live in Turkey.

In 2007, sister city relationship has been established between İstanbul and Jakarta.

Sister cities are Izmir-Surabaya, Istanbul-Jakarta, Istanbul/Pendik-Aceh/Sigli Town.