The Ambassador of Indonesia discussed how Astana’s experience helps the country in the development of its new capital and shared which Kazakhstani companies are interested in investing in Nusantara.
Mochamad Fadjroel Rachman, city — Astana, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Tajikistan
About myself
I am the Ambassador of Indonesia in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. I live in Astana and have been carrying out my diplomatic mission here since 2021.
This is my first post as a diplomat. Before this position, I was the press secretary for the former President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, for two years, and earlier, I worked as the CEO of state audit companies for eight years. I also spent ten years in journalism.
I enjoy communication, building relationships, and engaging in debates. Around 80% of my life consists of speeches and debates. When I was at university, I was a writer. I wrote poems, novels, and short stories. Currently, we are preparing a joint project with Mr. Dudu, the head of the cultural center of our embassy. We are planning to publish a book — an anthology of poets from Kazakhstan and Indonesia.
About my work
According to the new Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sugiono, we have several priorities. The first is national security matters. The second is economic diplomacy, where we are opening new opportunities to sell our products in new markets, such as Central Asia, Russia, and Africa. The third priority is strengthening Indonesia’s influence worldwide. And finally, the fourth priority is improving the protection of Indonesian citizens and diaspora around the world.
My mission and main priority are to learn more about Kazakhstan and the capital city. Astana is one of the youngest capitals, and Indonesia is in the process of creating a new capital city, Nusantara. Therefore, Mr. President tasked me with learning how Kazakhstan relocated its capital from Almaty to Astana, how to manage a new capital, as well as how to invest in the new capital and attract investors. We are keen to understand Astana’s success story. We even have a memorandum of understanding between Astana and our new capital Nusantara — they became sister cities.
Since we are actively building a new capital, we have received letters from five Kazakhstani companies interested in cooperation with us, including BI Group and “Sergek.” They are ready to invest in Nusantara. This year, we also plan to support Freedom Group and other businessmen from the banking and digital sectors in Indonesia for further collaboration. Over the next two years, we will focus on increasing this cooperation in the areas of economics and business.
One of the major events that our embassy will be involved in this year is the visit of President of Indonesia, Mr. Prabowo Subianto, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sugiono, to Kazakhstan.
Our goal is to prepare for the signing of 16 memorandums of understanding between Kazakhstan and Indonesia in the fields of oil, minerals, education, culture, politics, and economics.
About working in Central Asia
We are preparing a memorandum between Indonesia and Kazakhstan on oil cooperation. We have a strong interest not only in oil but also in minerals. We import asbestos, aluminum, and ferroalloys from Kazakhstan. From Indonesia to Kazakhstan, we export electrical machines, screens, refrigerators, and palm oil. In 2023, the export of goods from Indonesia to Kazakhstan amounted to $700 million.
Soon, we plan to sign a free trade agreement between Indonesia and the Eurasian Economic Union, which includes countries like Kazakhstan, Russia, Armenia, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan. This means an additional 180 million consumers for the Indonesian market, while at the same time, Indonesia’s population of 280 million people represents potential consumers for Kazakhstani products. We need cotton, meat, and dairy products.
After signing, our trade volume target is $1 billion, and in a couple of years, it could reach two to three billion dollars. Central Asia and Eurasia are large markets for us, and we are interested in this region. We see huge potential here, which we aim to unlock.
We are also developing cooperation in education. More than 30 students from Indonesia study in Kazakhstan, at universities such as NU, SDU, and KazGU. These students are mostly doctoral and master’s students, with a few undergraduates. The costs for our students are covered by the Kazakhstani side, which is very nice. At the same time, about 30 students from Kazakhstan study in Indonesia, with scholarships provided by our government. I hope that next year, the number of students will increase to 100. Education is one of our most important priorities. Students are like ambassadors. When they come to Indonesia, they tell about their country, promoting Kazakhstan, and after their studies, they can share their experiences of Indonesia with their fellow countrymen.
We also have a cultural scholarship, through which more than 100 students from Kazakhstan and Tajikistan have visited Indonesia. The program lasts from eight months to a year. It is a non-degree scholarship for studying the Indonesian language, arts, and music. The goal of the program is to strengthen mutual understanding and cultural ties between our countries. All information about admission can be obtained from the Indonesian Cultural Center. The center also conducts courses in the Indonesian language, which is necessary for receiving this scholarship.
About Central Asia
I’ve been told that in Astana, there are only two seasons: cold and colder, and this is the first time I’ve experienced real winter weather. When I arrived in Astana, it was December, minus 30°C, while in Indonesia, it was plus 30°C. The temperature difference was 60°C. I dream of visiting Yakutia, where temperatures can reach minus 50°C, so I think Astana isn’t that cold. We are quite comfortable here.
Our peoples look similar, and we also share cultural similarities — hospitality. Both Kazakhstani and Indonesian cuisines have similar dishes, such as shashlik, which in Indonesia is called satay, though the pieces are smaller. In Kazakhstan, there are bursaqui, while in Indonesia, we have fried bread called odading.
In these three years, I have visited more than half of the cities in Kazakhstan. The nature and people here are amazing, and I feel that Kazakhstan has become my second home.