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NDONESIA: Many people in Indonesia may not know where Belarus is, but the country has recognized the strategic importance of Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, and opened an embassy in Jakarta. Belarus Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov will arrive in Jakarta on Sunday to give new shape to growing bilateral relations.

“It is our foreign minister’s first ever visit to Indonesia since the establishment of diplomatic relations in June 1993,” Belarus Ambassador to Indonesia Vladimir Lopato-Zagorsky said in a release sent to The Jakarta Post on Friday.

During his four-day visit, Martynov is scheduled to meet his Indonesian counterpart and host, Marty Natalegawa, People’s Consultative Assembly Speaker Taufiq Kiemas, Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan, Research and Technology Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan and other officials. He will officially inaugurate the Belarus Embassy in Jakarta on Monday.

The visit will also have another dimension.

“The minister will be accompanied by a group of leading Belarus businesspeople who have interests in industry, mining, petrochemicals, science, education and defense spheres. Martynov will meet the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman,” the statement said.