Armenia celebrated its National Day in Jakarta on Tuesday as the country also entered its 25th year of diplomatic relations with Indonesia, with both countries expressing a strong commitment to strengthening their partnership.

In proficient Indonesian, Armenia Ambassador to Indonesia Anna Aghadjanian said that despite bilateral ties between the two countries being relatively new, together they had achieved many things and would seek to enhance further cooperation.

“Exchanges of culture, research and education [between Indonesia and Armenia] are underway,” she said.

Data from the Trade Ministry suggests there is still room for growth for economic cooperation between Indonesia and Armenia. In 2016, two-way trade between the two sides hit a five-year low with only US$2.2 million recorded, a slight decrease from $2.7 million in 2015.

Global economic conditions, declining commodity prices and shifting strategic policy caused by Ukraine’s crisis are considered the main factors behind the decreasing trade.

However, both countries have shown their enthusiasm to strengthen cooperation, with two-way trade between January and June reaching $2 million. Armenia’s main imports from Indonesia are coffee, tea, spices and rattan furniture, while the primary import commodities from Armenia are cotton and airplane spare parts.

A visit of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian to Jakarta last year also indicated that diplomatic ties between the two countries were in great shape. During that visit, the country’s agreed that while the economic relationship was still relatively insignificant, coffee exports from Indonesia to Armenia had emerged as a promising trade commodity.

Nalbandian also said he hoped Indonesia would open an ambassador post in Armenia in the near future to boost cooperation.

Every Sep. 21, the Republic of Armenia celebrates its anniversary of independence from the USSR. On that day in 1991, 94.9 percent of Armenian citizens voted for independence in a referendum that not only separated Armenia from the USSR, but also established independent statehood.

The Republic of Armenia was accepted as a full member of the international community as a sovereign state soon afterward when they joined the United Nations in 1992.

During Tuesday’s event, Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister M. Nasir praised the excellent relations between Indonesia and Armenia that were built on equality and the mutual promotion of peace.

He said both countries had held their first bilateral consultative meeting recently, which focused on business to business and people to people relations.

“Indonesia has also offered Armenian students scholarships to come to Indonesia to learn our language and culture,” he said.

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