Foreign Affairs Ministry Promotes Diaspora Diplomacy

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Image from article, with caption: Participants of Thematic Forum of the Governmental Public Relations Coordination Board (Bakohumas) which adopts theme ‘Empowering Indonesian Citizen Living Abroad for the National Interest’ pose for a group photo at the Ballroom of Novotel Hotel, Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday (18/7)

Acting Director General for Information and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Niniek Kun Naryatie asserted that there are times when diplomacy is a very exclusive job done only by diplomats.

“Diplomats were once the noble, the descendants of aristocrats, or aristocrats themselves. Diplomacy has elite impression that can only be done in the palaces, luxurious places by people in suit. Now, diplomacy can be done by anyone,” Niniek said in her remarks at a Thematic Forum of the Governmental Public Relations Coordination Board (Bakohumas) adopting a theme ‘Empowering Indonesian Citizen Living Abroad for the National Interest’ in Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday (18/7).

Therefore, according to her, it is a challenge for Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote Indonesian diplomacy internationally so it will bring the greatest benefits for the people. She also said that the Ministry has to remind the public that diplomacy is not only conducted by the state but also by civilians, including civil society, and Indonesian Diaspora living abroad. “Because every Indonesian citizen in their own capabilities and capacities is a diplomat in the international eye,” Niniek said.

In the meantime, Director General for Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics Rosarita Niken Widyastuti in her remarks said that (Indonesian) Diaspora are spread in 65 countries comprising 8 million people.

“That means Indonesian citizens are able to compete with citizens of other countries. Our human resources are similar or better than others in this global competition,” she said.

Particularly regarding the diaspora of International Indonesian Scholars’ Association (I-4), Niken said they are amazing. According to Niken, I-4 consists of extraordinary inventors and patent holders living abroad. “We are proud to have excellent diaspora,” Niken firmly said.

Niken also believes Indonesian diaspora living abroad loves this country and their contributions should be appreciated by the related companies or institutions in Indonesia. In addition to that, diaspora of migrant workers also have great contribution to Indonesia, she said. “They contribute US$10 billion a year. The figure is only sourced from Indonesian migrant workers and they not only work,” Niken said.

Niken further said that the potentials of Indonesian diaspora living, working, and studying abroad are enormous.

For that reason, cooperation between Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bakohumas is expected to bring many benefits in disseminating information regarding empowerment to the people. “Bakohumas also has great potentials. We have synergized, and once the thematic task of Bakohumas is conducted, the information will spread all around Indonesia. It is because all ministries/institutions are obliged to write a rubric about inter-institution information in their websites and print medias,” Niken added.

Attending the event were Director General for Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics Rosarita Niken Widyastuti, Acting Director General for Information and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Niniek Kun Naryatie, Director for Information and Media Services of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics Siti Sofia Sudarma, Secretary of the Directorate General for Information and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aziz Nurwahyudi, Director General for Information and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Al Busyra Basnur, and the representatives of public relations offices of all ministries/institutions.