I

n the beginning, some people in Jakarta thought he was the Japanese ambassador to Indonesia, thanks to his name and physical appearance. Most of the time, Ambassador Edmundo Sussumu Fujita has had to convince people that he is the ambassador of Brazil, the land of samba and soccer.

Fujita, an ethnic Japanese who was born and raised in Brazil, will be leaving Indonesia and his numerous friends very soon, following the completion of his three-year tenure here.

Before his arrival here, the relations between Brazil, South America's foremost economic power, and Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, were like those between two sleeping giants.

"Yes, earlier they were like two sleeping elephants. But now they are wake up and want to work together as partners," Fujita told The Jakarta Post in an interview at his office recently in Jakarta.

Under Fujita's watch, the relations between Brazil and Indonesia grew rapidly.

"Last year, both Brazil and Indonesia signed an agreement to establish strategic partnership, a big step in the bilateral relationship," said Fujita, one of Brazil's foremost professional diplomats.

The usual qualms about geographical distance were put aside. There has also been good rapport between the leaders of both countries.

"In a single year, 2007, both Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited each other's countries. I think they met more than five times at various international meetings," said Fujita, who submitted his credentials to President Yudhoyono in 2006.

The most significant development was an unprecedented boom in bilateral trade. The trade value has doubled in four years.

"Last year, our bilateral trade jumped to US$2.25 billion, a 42 percent increase from $1.58 billion in 2007," said Fujita, who joined the foreign service in 1976.

The figure of $2.25 billion was a tremendous increase from the $441.59 million posted in 2001.

"The trade will grow to further heights in the years to come, given both countries' enormous economic potential," Fujita said.

Indonesia mainly exports yarn, natural rubber, vegetable oil, automobile parts and cocoa to Brazil, and imports semi-finished iron and pig iron products, iron ore, oil cakes, cotton, tobacco and leather from Brazil.

Brazilian companies have shown an increasing interest in Indonesia.

Brazil few years back acquired PT INCO, the world's biggest producer of premier nickel, through its mining company Companhia Vale do Rio Doce.

"Our main interest is in the energy sector, especially biofuels. We would like to have a strong cooperation in this field. Our oil companies are also showing interest in Indonesia," Fujita said.

For its part, Indonesia has realized the importance of nurturing good relations with Brazil.

With a GDP of $1.58 trillion and a population of 192 million, Brazil has emerged as a global player as well as a global breadbasket.

It has abundant solar power, fresh water, fertile farmlands, the world's largest tropical forest and a warm climate. It has also the largest cattle population on Earth.

Brazil, which produces 2 million barrels of oil per day, is also the "superpower" in biofuels and sugar. It recently found huge hydrocarbon deposits beneath the South Atlantic continental shelf in Brazilian waters.

Fujita said several Brazilian ministers and businesspeople had visited Indonesia, and vice versa.

While commenting on the future of democracy in Indonesia, Fujita said it would slowly but surely consolidate in the future.

"Like in Brazil, democracy will slowly but surely consolidate in Indonesia. It has a bright future," Fujita said.

There is another area in which, perhaps, no diplomat can beat him. That is none other than culture. Fujita, who studied political science at the renowned London School of Economics and Political Science, is not just a diplomat, but he is more than that. He has a multifaceted personality.

Fujita is a painter, musician, author and professor. His name frequently appears in op-ed columns of newspapers.

Last year, all of Fujita's works were displayed in an exhibition called "Memories of Imagination", at the Duta Fine Arts Gallery in Jakarta.

It is not a surprise to see why Fujita has so many artists as friends.

Fujita took a special interest in cultural exchanges.

"We were able to bring our top musicians, artists and Capoeira experts to Indonesia. They were well received by the Indonesian people," Fujita said.

He also prompted the small Brazilian community to showcase their country in Indonesia through various cultural performances.

Fujita and his Filipina wife, Maria Ligaya, said they had enjoyed their stay in Indonesia.

"Frankly speaking, I have chosen Indonesia to work here. We had a wonderful stay here," Fujita said.

During more than half a dozen farewell parties, many people praised Fujita for his good deeds.

"Ambassador Fujita really did a good job. At the same time, we have our Ambassador Bali Moniaga in Brazil, who also played an active role in building the new partnership. The credit goes to both," Hendrar Pramudyo from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry's Directorate for South America and Caribbean Affairs told the Post recently.

But Fujita views his success differently.

"I was lucky. I came to Indonesia at the right time when our relations were beginning to grow and I met the right people," Fujita said.