International Focus Magazine Vol. 3, #5 | Page 42

Q: Can you tell us more about your background? A: After graduating, I began as an educator teaching middle school and then later in my career becoming a professor for a master degree pro- gram at a private university in In- donesia teaching diplomacy. Prior to my assignment as a Consul General, I was the director for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Mid-career Dip- lomatic school. I have been working with Indonesian foreign affairs for the past 23 years, starting in 1995. I was assigned to be the head of politi- cal affairs in Manila, where I would go on to earn my PhD. After that, I worked in Bangkok for the United Nations economic and social affairs. Since last September I have been able to represent Indonesia here in Hous- ton as the acting Consul General, covering a jurisdiction that stretches from New Mexico to Florida, also including Puerto Rico and The U.S. Virgin Islands. Q: What can you tell us about your 50 iF Magazine | May 2018 42 past assignments? A: Every place has its own unique- ness about it. In Manila my team and I worked negotiating and monitoring relations between the Government of the Philippines and the Separatist group there. In Bangkok I was work- ing directly with the United Nations and the dynamic was focused on multilateral relationships with many countries, rather than my experienc- es in Manila and now in Houston, that is about the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and the United States. Q: With what kind of mindset you do you approach your duties as Consul General? A: The strategy that I approach diplomatic relations is made up of three pillars. First being promotion of economics and investment, both in tourism and business development. Secondly is person-to-person inter- action, educating the people of the United States about our culture and way of life. Lastly is protecting Indo- nesian citizens abroad, offering our support and services to help their ef- forts to live in the United States. I am very proud of Indonesia’s progres- sive economy. With our trade surplus with the United States being around 18.8%, investment in Indonesian en- terprises has increased 71.5% from 2016 and tourism from the United States has increased 13.11% in 2017. We work very closely with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, especially in areas under our jurisdiction to find new investment opportunities and strengthen existing ones. Last week we joined the Dallas Travel Show and a cruise destination expedition to promote tourism. Q: What is the dynamic of Indone- sians living in the United States? A: Under our jurisdiction we have around 20,000 Indonesian citizens and an even larger number of Indo- nesian Americans that we assist with our services. The top three areas with the largest groupings of Indonesian populous is Houston, Atlanta, and Florida. Our Houston site is the larg-