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em>Georgia, a small state in the South Caucasus, recently opened an embassy in Jakarta. Indonesia’s trade, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), has been growing in double digits. In 2012, bilateral trade between the two countries surged to US$58.75 million, a 41.69 percent increase from $40.93 million in 2011. The Jakarta Post’s Veeramalla Anjaiah interviewed Georgian Ambassador to Indonesia Zurab Aleksidze to discuss why Georgia was interested in Indonesia and what Georgia could offer Indonesia in return.

Question: What is the main purpose of your establishing an embassy in Jakarta?

Answer: The Embassy of Georgia was opened in Jakarta in December 2012. We consider Indonesia a reliable partner and strong supporter of Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The presence of a Georgian mission in Jakarta is the result of the increasingly high-profile reputation Indonesia has gained worldwide in recent years. Developing mutually beneficial political and economic relations with Indonesia is one of Georgia’s top foreign policy priorities.

Could you please shed some light on the history of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Indonesia?

Diplomatic relations between Georgia and Indonesia were established on Jan. 25, 1993. Since then, despite the geographical distance involved, the two countries have developed fruitful and close cooperation. This year, 2013, marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. An exchange of high-level visits and various cultural events dedicated to this anniversary will contribute to the deepening of cooperation in different fields, further intensifying people-to-people contacts and helping to raise awareness about Georgia’s history, as well as its traditions and culture.

Many Indonesians do not know much about your country. What are the main economic prospects in your country? And how is the investment climate?

Georgia is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and represents a combination of uniqueness and diversity. It is a small country [4.5 million population] but you can find the Caucasus Mountain range, Black Sea coast, a curative climate and mineral waters, national parks and UNESCO heritage sites, ancient history, diverse culture and traditions, delicious cuisine and a rich wine culture.

Real gross domestic growth (GDP) growth was 7 percent in 2012. Promising and growing sectors in the Georgian economy include manufacturing, trade, transportation, tourism and agriculture. We have also created a favorable and attractive investment climate in the sectors of energy, tourism, industry and agriculture. There is a tremendous variety of traditional Georgian products that can be exported to both Southeast Asian and Indonesian markets. Among our top export products are ferroalloys; mineral and chemical fertilizers; nitrogen; gold in either unwrought or semi-manufactured forms; nuts; spirits; wine; mineral water; copper ore; and concentrates.

How do you perceive Indonesia and Southeast Asia?

Deepening relations with the Southeast Asian region is one of the most important goals for Georgia’s foreign policy. The geographic scope of cooperation and partnership with the region is becoming much wider as our country continues to develop mutually beneficial business relations with important countries in the region, including Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines. Moreover, Jakarta is home to the headquarters of regional association ASEAN, making it a key regional player for enhancing security and economic stability in the international arena.

What is your main mission during your tenure in Indonesia?

We acknowledge that the full potential of our bilateral relations has not been reached. Therefore, my main mission will be to promote my beautiful country’s image in Indonesia and, thus, contribute to the process of turning Georgia into an attractive touristic destination with ample investment opportunities for Indonesian partners.