BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 9. Dynamic economic
development, an open foreign policy, and reforms make Azerbaijan a
promising partner for Indonesia in the fields of economy, energy,
tourism, digitalization, and education, Berlian Helmy, the
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Indonesia to
Azerbaijan, said in an exclusive interview with Trend.
“Before arriving in Baku, I studied Azerbaijan from various
sources, and I can say that it is a very dynamic and energetic
country. Azerbaijan has strategic significance and can become an
important strategic partner for Indonesia,” noted the Indonesian
Ambassador.
According to him, the positive assessment of the country is
based on several reasons: “First, Azerbaijan is a rapidly emerging
progressive economy in the region. Many achievements are evident,
and macroeconomic indicators demonstrate steady growth.
Secondly, the domestic policy of the government is oriented
towards cooperation with other countries. This is an open country,
ready to engage with states and regions worldwide.”
The Ambassador added that Azerbaijan has carried out significant
reforms and transformations in state policy, which have already
yielded tangible results, particularly in the economy, and this
creates prospects for the country’s future.
“Thanks to its openness to cooperation, Indonesia can become a
strategic partner of Azerbaijan in developing mutually beneficial
projects, such as in business, investment, trade, tourism, and
other sectors.
The country’s geographic location at the junction of Asia and
Europe makes it a promising hub for Indonesia to enter European
markets. And finally, Azerbaijan demonstrates dynamic development
in social and cultural spheres. This is especially noticeable among
the younger generation – thinking, communication, and lifestyle are
becoming more modern, which creates favorable conditions for
cooperation,” said B. Helmy.
Priorities of Bilateral Cooperation
The Indonesian Ambassador noted that his first priority is to
form the institutional and political infrastructure of bilateral
cooperation: “It should include the creation of a comprehensive
strategic basis for interaction between Indonesia and Azerbaijan,
which will serve as a foundation for current and future
cooperation.
The first task is to encourage the governments of both countries
to sit at the negotiating table and officially formalize a
strategic partnership. Next, I plan to focus on the development of
economic and social sectors.
Secondly, the priority is to increase trade volumes and expand
the range of goods and services.”
He emphasized the importance of opening broader access for
Indonesian goods to the domestic market of Azerbaijan and
simplifying communication, contacts, and negotiations between
businessmen of both countries. “An important aspect is the exchange
of knowledge. Business communities must better understand each
other’s potential and opportunities to effectively develop trade
and investment,” he said.
Energy: Traditional and New Sources
“In the energy sector, we will focus on stable supplies of
energy resources from Azerbaijan to Indonesia, as well as
cooperation in green energy and diversification of energy
sources.
An important direction is food security. We rely on Azerbaijan
as a reliable supplier of fertilizers, which are extremely
important for Indonesia’s agriculture,” stated the Ambassador.
He also emphasized the importance of water resilience and water
security. “Azerbaijan has extensive experience in providing clean
drinking water, including Caspian Sea desalination technologies,
and it is important for us to develop cooperation in this area,” he
noted.
Regarding education, he stated: “In the context of Industry 4.0,
we are interested in technological and scientific cooperation,
especially in STEM fields – science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics.”
Digitalization as a Tool for Transformation
“In the broadest sense, digitalization is a concept of
transformation. If considered in the economic and social context,
it is precisely in these directions that we need to develop
cooperation with Azerbaijan. The main task is to accelerate
transformations through digital technologies and achieve an
economic effect.
It is important for us to promote Indonesian products in the
Azerbaijani market through modern digital platforms and tools.
Therefore, one of my tasks is to develop cooperation in the field
of digitalization to support trade and business between our
countries,” noted the Ambassador.
In the social sphere, he emphasized the importance of digital
literacy: “It helps societies better understand each other’s
culture and characteristics. Indonesians should know Azerbaijan
better, and Azerbaijani youth should know Indonesia.”
“For this, it is necessary to develop educational cooperation
and exchange programs, as well as to exchange data and information
about our countries. The materials should be open and accessible in
digital format,” he said.
Mutual Support on the International Stage
“We see enormous potential in strengthening the strategic
partnership between Indonesia and Azerbaijan. My task is to ensure
that all areas of cooperation – from politics and economy to
education, energy, tourism, and digitalization – develop
harmoniously, creating mutually beneficial opportunities for both
countries,” concluded the Ambassador.
