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ndonesia and the UK will continue to pursue a more robust relationship, with the latter putting a greater focus on Southeast Asia following the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), outgoing Indonesian Ambassador to the UK and the Republic of Ireland, Teuku Mohammad Hamzah Thayeb, said recently.

Hamzah, whose tenure ended on Wednesday, expressed optimism on the future of Jakarta-London bilateral relations despite challenges commonly faced by traditional partners aiming to boost trade and investment.

'€œThe UK has mentioned that it is shifting to Asia as the trend is going there. For London, Asia does not only mean China and India, but also Southeast Asia. And Southeast Asia is Indonesia,'€ the ambassador told The Jakarta Post during a farewell at his London residence last week.

Over 1,000 Indonesians residing in the UK attended the event. They were greeted with Indonesian food such as nasi goreng (fried rice), bakso (meatball soup) and satay, which are rarely found in the country.

Hamzah, whose father Teuku Mohammad Hadi Thayeb was also the ambassador to the UK and the Republic of Ireland from 1990 to 1993, acknowledged that Indonesia still fell below Singapore and Malaysia in terms of trade with the UK.

'€œThe AEC has big potential. That we still have many domestic issues that we urgently need to address is also true. But that does not put the potential out of our reach. I am optimistic because, under our new government, numerous improvements and reforms are on the way. We are doing it,'€ he said.

As Jakarta-London relations have existed since 1949, the two countries could have difficultly finding room to grow in terms of trade and investment. '€œNaturally, there could be not much left but that does not make us do nothing,'€ Hamzah said.

Data from the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) showed that the UK was the seventh-largest foreign investor in Indonesia in the first half of last year, with investments worth US$424.93 million.

Two-way trade in the January-November period of 2015 stood at $2.13 billion, representing an 8.62 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2014.

But the 63-year-old diplomat insisted on staying optimistic. '€œLike President [Joko] '€˜Jokowi'€™ [Widodo] has repeatedly said, mind-set reform is key. And I pretty much agree with this. Let'€™s be honest, of all the issues our economic and industrial sectors are facing are mostly about mind-set.'€

Aside from economic links, Hamzah added, the two countries had common interests and shared values, especially in democracy, as well as promoting tolerance and interfaith dialogue. Promoting people-to-people diplomacy has also been conducted through cooperations between universities.

The UK is home to about 2,500 Indonesian students. Hamzah said their presence was beneficial in promoting Indonesia in the country.

'€œI always told [the students] about the motto '€˜engage and embrace'€™ because they are also agents of Indonesia. That is why the Indonesian Embassy always supports activities held by the PPI [Indonesian Students Association],'€ he said.

Hamzah is slated to be replaced by Rizal Sukma, formerly the executive director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Jokowi'€™s foreign affairs adviser.

When asked if he had any unfinished business that he would like Rizal to accomplish, Hamzah spontaneously answered: '€œcuisine!'€

Food diplomacy? '€œWhy not?'€ he said. Hamzah explained that many British people were impressed by Indonesian foods at events organized by the embassy. '€œBut yet, the number of Indonesian restaurants in the UK is very limited, unlike Thai [restaurants],'€ he said.