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Turkey-RI partnership expected to soar
Get together: Turkish Ambassador to Indonesia Zekeriya Akcam (center) cuts a cake with Womenâs Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Susana Yembise (second left), Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti (third right) and several other ambassadors to mark the celebration of the 91st anniversary of Turkeyâs Republic Day at Ritz Carlton hotel in Jakarta on Wednesday
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span class="inline inline-center">Get together: Turkish Ambassador to Indonesia Zekeriya Akcam (center) cuts a cake with Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Susana Yembise (second left), Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti (third right) and several other ambassadors to mark the celebration of the 91st anniversary of Turkey's Republic Day at Ritz Carlton hotel in Jakarta on Wednesday. JP/Awo
Bilateral ties between Indonesia and Turkey have strengthened in a number of sectors in past years, including in education, culture, trade, investment and tourism.
Turkey ambassador to Indonesia, Zekeriya Akcam, said he hoped that such a flourishing partnership could be expanded for the betterment of both Muslim majority countries.
'This year we have awarded more than 400 Indonesian students scholarships to study in Turkey. We hope that our positive partnership will continue to grow,' Akcam said on Wednesday in opening remarks made during a celebration marking the 91st anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in Jakarta.
The celebration was attended by two newly inaugurated Cabinet ministers, namely Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Susana Yembise and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti. Former Indonesian foreign minister Alwi Shihab also attended the event.
Trade between Indonesia and Turkey reached US$2.8 billion in 2013, up from $1.6 billion in 2012 and $1.3 billion in 2010, according to data provided by Indonesia's Trade Ministry.
Meanwhile, trade between Turkey and Indonesia reached $1.6 billion between January and July this year.
In August, Indonesia aired plans to set up a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Turkey, aiming to boost commodities shipments and increase exports to $2 billion in the near future.
Former Indonesian trade minister Muhammad Lutfi has said that Indonesia deemed Turkey a strategic partner because it could act as a point of entry to European markets.
Currently, palm oil is Indonesia's top export to Turkey.
Turkey and Indonesia established diplomatic relations in 1950, with the Turkish embassy in Jakarta opening on April 10, 1957.
Both countries are full members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Developing 8 Countries (D-8) and the G20 major economies. (alz)
