The Indonesian Embassy

INDONESIA - BULGARIA RELATIONS

Diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Bulgaria was established on 21 September 1956, and since then both countries have been enjoying cordial political relations. Bulgaria was among the States that provided support and recognition of Indonesia's independence since its Proclamation of Independence on 17 August 1945. Indonesia and Bulgaria attach great importance to enhancing further cordial relations that exist between the two countries, particularly through economic cooperation.

Bulgaria sees Indonesia as a State that has been playing a major and important role in international and regional peace (in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region) and economic cooperation. Likewise, Indonesia sees Bulgaria as a friendly nation with its active and important

Diplomatic relations with Bulgaria was covered by the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow, headed at the time by Ambassador Adam Malik. Indonesia and Bulgaria agreed to enhance the level of each missions to Embassy level on July 1960. In 1962, Indonesian Embassy was established in Sofia, headed by a Charge d’Affaires. Ambassador Sutjipto Danukusumo became the first Indonesian Ambassador stationed in Sofia (for the period of February 1966 – May 1969). The incumbent Ambassador Immanuel Robert Inkiriwang serves as the 18^th Indonesian Chief of Mission to Bulgaria.

The visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, H.E. Mr. Georgi Purvanov to Indonesia on 12-15 September 2003 by the invitation of H.E. Mrs. Megawati Soekarnoputri, the then President of the Republic of Indonesia, was the first visit by a Bulgarian Head of State to Indonesia, in which both Head of States highlighted the need to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of politics, economy (particularly in trade, investment and tourism) as well as on the fields of science and education, energy, agriculture, defence, and culture. President Purvanov visited the Embassy on 5 January 2005 to express the sympathy and solidarity of the government and the people of Bulgaria to the government and people of Indonesia in relation to the Tsunami catasthrope that ravaged the Indonesian province of Aceh. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had a meeting with President Georgi Purvanov on 25 October 2008, at the sidelines of the 7th ASEM Summit in Beijing, whereby both Head of States agreed that Indonesia - Bulgaria relations should be deepen and broaden, in particular on the economic sphere.

Cooperation on multilateral forum have also been mutually beneficial and marked by mutual support for candidacies in international organizations and fora.

Bilateral trade dropped between 2004-2006, and began to register slight increase in 2007, although not substantially compared to the period (2004-2006). The drop of bilateral trade relations may have been affected by the changes happening in Bulgaria towards its membership in the European Union (EU) which diverted Bulgarian foreign trade. Nevertheless Indonesia is still a major trade partner of Bulgaria outside of the EU and within the list of 10 major trade partner countries. The Bulgarian Chambers of Commerce and Industries noted the increase in bilateral trade in value and trade items.

Indonesia and Bulgaria share similar experiences that encourages closer cooperation. Both countries have experience a transition, from an authoritarian rule for Indonesia, and from communism for Bulgaria, towards a democracy. Both are key players in each respective region in maintaining peace and stability, and situated in strategic geographical location. Indonesia is the largest and one of the founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), while Bulgaria has been a member of the EU since January 2007. Bulgaria has been playing an active role in the Central and Eastern European region as well as in the Balkan and the Black Sea regions, similar to the active and important role played by Indonesia in the Southeast Asian and the Asia-Pacific regions. In addition, both countries are blessed with rich cultural and historical heritage, and both countries are proud of these.

Bulgaria has the potential to play an important role in bridging further Indonesian trade and economic relations to the EU market. Likewise, Indonesia has the potential to play similar role in bridging Bulgarian trade and economic relations in the ASEAN market, noting that the Bulgarian Embassy in Jakarta also covers Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam, and in addition the ASEAN Secretariat is situated in Jakarta.

Bilateral Trade

Export and import to and from Bulgaria

(non petroleum and gas products, in million USD)

	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Export	103.08	47.76	50.78	19.16	37.51	16,29
Import	9.03	20.18	18.78	19.96	11.61	71,46
Total	112.11	67.94	69.56	39.12	49.12	87,76

Source: Indonesian Central Board of Statistics

Indonesia’s largest export to Bulgaria (by commodities):

2003 : Coffee, coffee husks etc, substitutes with coffee

2004 : Palm oil & its fractions, not chemically modified

2005 : Palm oil & its fractions, not chemically modified

2006 : Coffee, coffee husks etc, substitutes with coffee (42.01% share of Bulgaria’s total import)

2007 : Palm oil & its fractions, not chemically modified (No. 1 exporter to Bulgaria with 54.35% share of Bulgaria’s total import)

Indonesia’s largest import from Bulgaria (by commodities)

2003 : Carbonates, peroxocarbonates, comm amm carbonate

2004 : Seeds, anise, badian, fennel, coriander, cumin etc

2005 : Carbonates, peroxocarbonates, comm amm carbonate

2006 : Seeds, anise, badian, fennel, coriander, cumin etc (14.94% share of Indonesia’s total import)

2007 : Carbonates, peroxocarbonates, comm amm carbonate (21.15% share of Indonesia’s total import)