Central Java Strengthens Soft Power Diplomacy
Central Java possesses numerous cultural products that can serve as one of Indonesia’s strengths in diplomacy with other countries around the world. Through cultural activities, tourism, and collaborations established with other nations, these can become soft power diplomacy initiatives promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Central Java has everything. The potential is there, the products are extraordinary, the culture is present, tourism is there,” said the Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Republic of Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heru Subolo, during his visit to the Central Java Governor’s Office on Monday, 6 April 2026.
According to him, the steps already taken by Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi in becoming a marketing manager to directly promote the region’s potential are deemed appropriate.
“What the Central Java Governor has done is extraordinary. We from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will accelerate that,” he emphasised.
He also highlighted that Central Java Province already has collaborations in the form of sister provinces and sister cities with provinces and cities in various countries. These collaborations serve as an established infrastructure that will continue to be strengthened.
“In the future, collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Java Governor, and our representatives abroad will be easier in terms of promotion, capacity building, and so on,” Heru explained.
The cultural products potential it possesses up to the collaborations already established also become one of the important instruments in developing soft power diplomacy. According to Heru, this soft power diplomacy relates to the values of cultural products that can strengthen Indonesia’s foreign policy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants the world to know Indonesia not as a political power based solely on the defence sector, let alone through war. But the world must know Indonesia from its extraordinary, noble, harmonious, and safe culture. These values are not possessed by many other countries.
“Central Java has all of that. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is greatly assisted by what the Central Java Governor and his apparatus are doing to strengthen this soft power diplomacy,” he stated.
Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided guidance on soft power diplomacy. This has been seized by the Central Java Provincial Government as a good opportunity, because currently Central Java is projected to become an investment hub.
“This is very interesting if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can bridge so that investment in our area can develop further. Both in terms of culture, trade, and tourism,” he said.
Therefore, the Central Java Provincial Government will increase coordination and collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will later become a connector that helps Central Java representatives when they are in various countries.
In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can also connect with the Indonesian diaspora in various countries. The aim is, of course, to help develop the promotion of Central Java products in the countries where the diaspora reside. For example, UMKM products that are already exporting will develop further if they receive support from the diaspora.