When His Excellency, Ambassador of Indonesia to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Manahan M.P. Sitompul first arrived in the country, it was the month of May, a season of renewal and growth. Reflecting on his arrival, he shared that the first thing to strike him was the country’s “breathtaking natural beauty – the emerald-green rivers carving through lush valleys and the picturesque mountains surrounding Sarajevo.” Yet beyond the scenery, what touched him most was the character of the people: “the warmth, the dignity, and the resilient strength of Bosnians,” he explained. For him, the timing of spring was symbolic: it marked both a new season and the beginning of his diplomatic mission in Sarajevo.
Food, naturally, became one of the first windows into local culture. The Ambassador has explored Bosnia and Herzegovina’s diverse culinary traditions, which he admires for blending Eastern and Western influences. One dish, however, has become a personal favourite: burek. He described the “layers of flaky, golden pastry carefully wrapped around a savoury filling” as superb. The taste often reminds him of home, recalling Indonesia’s beloved Martabak Telur – a spiced pastry filled with eggs, minced meat, and scallions. “Both burek and martabak are more than food,” he said, “they are hearty, satisfying snacks that bring people together.”
This year carries special importance for Indonesia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. As Indonesia celebrates its 80th Independence Day, the two nations also mark 31 years of bilateral relations. Looking back on this journey, the Ambassador observed that ties have steadily deepened: “Our relations are warm, friendly, and mutually respectful. They are strong and cordial, but also filled with untapped potential. ”He noted that while political relations and people-to-people ties are excellent, the priority ahead is to translate goodwill into “deeper, more substantive economic and development cooperation.”
Outlining the key priorities of his mission in Sarajevo, the Ambassador highlighted four main pillars:
The first one is Economic Diplomacy – strengthening trade and investment. He pointed out the natural synergy in the halal industry, while also underscoring opportunities in the digital economy, infrastructure, and downstream industries such as nickel, copper, and cobalt. The Indonesian Embassy has been highly active in this area, organizing trade expos, halal product showcases, business forums, and cultural festivals.
Participating in public trade expos such as Zenica and Tesanj Trade Expo 2024, Halal Expo Sarajevo in 2025 and 2023, participating in an individual expo to showcase trade and culture promotion dubbed “Indonesian Weekend” on an annual basis since 2022.
”We also place strong emphasis on facilitating business matching between entrepreneurs from both countries, both through offline meetings and online platforms. These efforts have already borne fruit – for instance, in December 2024, Indonesian cosmetics and body care products successfully entered the Bosnia and Herzegovina market. We are confident that more success stories will follow, particularly in halal-certified food, lifestyle products, and other promising sectors,” Ambassador explained.
These efforts are already bearing fruit and total bilateral trade has reached a record USD 27 million by mid-2025.
”Indonesia’s leading export commodities to Bosnia and Herzegovina include paper, palm oil, and coal, while Bosnia and Herzegovina’s exports to Indonesia consist primarily of defense-related products and mechanical equipment,” His Excellency explained.
People-to-people exchanges are also growing steadily. The number of visitors from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Indonesia has continued to rise, reaching 705 travelers as of July 2025– the highest figure recorded since 2020. This encouraging trend reflects a deepening interest in Indonesia’s culture, tourism, and opportunities for cooperation.
The second one Ambassador highlighted is People-to-People Ties – fostering exchanges in education, tourism, and culture. He proudly spoke about the new “Indonesia Goes to Campus” initiative, launching this October at Sarajevo’s universities.
”This year, we are innovating by implementing an integrated cultural promotion program, “Indonesia Goes to Campus.” This initiative is scheduled to take place at the International Burch University and the University of Sarajevo in October. The program is specifically designed to introduce Indonesian culture to the younger generation,” Ambassador explains.
The Embassy also maintains Indonesian Corners in Zenica and Tuzla, and promotes scholarships such as the Darmasiswa and KNB programs.
“We are also keen to promote the scholarship programs offered by the Indonesian Government. These include non-degree scholarships, such as the Darmasiswa Scholarship, and degree scholarships, namely the Developing Countries Partnership Scholarship (KNB),” H.E. concluded.
The third one is Political Cooperation and Solidarity – both countries, he noted, share “common views on global and regional issues,” supporting one another in multilateral forums and strengthening dialogue on peace, security, and sustainable development. He also welcomed the steady increase of high-level visits, expressing hope for an official visit by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s head of state to Indonesia.
”Such visit would serve as a strong symbol demonstrating the growing importance that both nations attach to our 31 years of bilateral relations,” Ambassador added.
The fourth one is Strengthening Protection and Cooperation for Indonesian Workers – as more Indonesians find employment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in the hospitality sector, the Ambassador emphasized the importance of developing robust legal frameworks to protect their rights and welfare.
”We would welcome a strong commitment to developing robust legal frameworks that protect the rights of migrant workers in the country. The Indonesian Embassy will continue to stay active in building good communication and partnerships to help protect the rights and well-being of our citizens,” Ambassador concluded.
He also reflected on cultural similarities he has observed since arriving: strong family and community bonds, deep devotion to faith, and a spirit of resilience and optimism. These parallels, he believes, form “a solid foundation for long-lasting friendship.”
Strong Community and Family Ties make the importance placed on family, neighbours, and community well-being over extreme individualism is a shared value that defines our social fabric.
Religious Devotion, as the visible and heartfelt devotion to faith, which guides daily life and fosters a strong moral compass, is a powerful commonality between our societies.
And finally, Resilience and Optimism: Both of our nations have navigated complex historical paths. This has forged a national character of resilience, an ability to endure hardships, and an unwavering sense of optimism for the future.
Cultural diplomacy, therefore, is a central pillar of his mission. “Food, art, and music are universal languages that bring people together,” he said.
Cultural diplomacy is a fundamental pillar and a vital bridge between Indonesia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It operates through universal languages like food, music, and art to build mutual appreciation, soft power, and shared values such as diversity and resilience.
Indonesia and Bosnia and Herzegovina share several cultural similarities recognized as World Heritage, one of which is the art of woodcarving.
”This year, the Government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, has submitted a proposal to the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina for “Jepara Woodcarving” to be included as an extension/expansion of the existing UNESCO element for “Konjic Woodcarving,” Ambassador explained.
Through this extension, a positive impact is anticipated for the artisan communities in both Konjic and Jepara, including Global Revitalization: Generating renewed attention and interest in both Konjic and Jepara woodcarving traditions.
Also, New Market Networks: Unlocking potential access to Asian and global markets.
And the last one, Innovation Exchange: Fostering a cross-cultural exchange of techniques and ideas.
”We are currently awaiting a response to this proposal from Indonesia and sincerely hope to receive positive consideration and support from the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in particular, from the community of Konjic woodcarving artisans,” he said.
”Golden Indonesia 2045” – the roadmap towards a prosperous, just, wealthy, and sustainable nation, in the first half of 2024 has shown encouraging economic indicators such as that Indonesia’s economic growth reached 5,05%; Indonesia’s GDP reached USD 5.271; inflation at a controlled, recorded at only 2,13%; and that Indonesia’s economic competitiveness ranks 27th globally. What can BiH learn from this initiative?
“Golden Indonesia 2045” is our national vision to transform Indonesia into a global economic powerhouse rooted in equitable development and sustainability. The encouraging economic indicators you cited – 5.05% growth, controlled inflation, and rising global competitiveness – are early results of our strategic focus.
From this initiative, both of our countries can strive towards a better future and economic stability and progress by working on:
● Strategic Investment in Human Capital: The success of 2045 hinges on a quality, productive, and innovative population. This requires relentless investment in education, healthcare, and technology access from an early age.
In his opinion, the strategic mindset behind “Golden Indonesia 2045” is universally applicable: the need for a long-term vision, strategic investment in infrastructure and human capital, and the deliberate pursuit of economic complexity. In these uncertain times, such a roadmap is not a luxury, but a necessity for any nation aspiring to secure a prosperous and sovereign future.
”I am confident that through continued dialogue and partnership, Indonesia and Bosnia and Herzegovina can share more experiences and build a more resilient future together,” Ambassador concluded.
As our conversation drew to a close, the Ambassador offered a heartfelt message to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
“My message is one of friendship, solidarity, and shared values. Indonesia deeply values the bond we have built with your nation. We stood with you in the past, and we proudly stand with you today. My mission here is to serve as a bridge – connecting our businesses, cultures, and communities, and bringing our nations ever closer together. Although geographically distant, our partnership is rich with potential. I warmly encourage Bosnians to visit Indonesia, discover opportunities for collaboration, and help shape our shared future. I am profoundly honoured to serve as your friend and partner in Sarajevo. Hvala vam puno.”
