In a bold move to harness the power of culinary arts as a diplomatic tool, Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono, today launched the Indonesian Gastrodiplomacy Dashboard at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta. The platform aims to boost Indonesia’s international relations and economic diplomacy through the promotion of its rich culinary heritage.
A Collaborative Effort for Global Recognition
The launch event was attended by a diverse group of officials, including representatives from the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, and the Ministry of Tourism, as well as senior figures from prominent state-owned enterprises such as Bank Mandiri, BNI, BSI, and Garuda Indonesia. The event also saw the participation of renowned culinary experts like William Wongso, alongside representatives from key gastrodiplomacy partners, including the Indonesian Culinary Committee (KKI), Indonesia Gastronomy Community (IGC), and the I Love Indonesian Food Community (ACMI).
The launch was simultaneously streamed online for Indonesian ambassadors stationed across the world, signaling the global importance of the initiative.
Culinary Arts as Soft Power
In his opening remarks, Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasized the strategic importance of gastrodiplomacy—using food and culinary traditions as a means of fostering stronger international ties. He stated, “Culinary arts are one of the soft power diplomacy strategies that have proven effective in bridging cultures and have great potential to enhance the economy, trade, and international relations.”
In 2024, the export of Indonesian spice and seasoning products reached significant milestones, with 30 spice products and 9 seasoning products successfully entering markets around the world. The Foreign Minister highlighted that such success stories are part of a broader effort to elevate Indonesian gastronomy as a key aspect of the country’s global identity.
A Collective Effort for National Branding
Promoting Indonesian cuisine on the global stage, however, is not a task that can be achieved alone. Minister Sugiono underscored the need for a unified approach, stating, “There needs to be coordination, collaboration, and synergy from all stakeholders to make Indonesian cuisine a national branding.”
Echoing this sentiment, Yuke Sri Rahayu, Deputy for Cultural Creativity and Design at the Ministry of Creative Economy, reiterated the Ministry’s support for the initiative. “The Ministry of Creative Economy will continue to encourage the strengthening of Indonesia’s gastrodiplomacy implementation. We believe that with the existence of this dashboard, Indonesian Gastronomy can be recognized more quickly in the eyes of the world,” Rahayu affirmed.
Empowering Culinary Practitioners and Diplomats
The Indonesian Gastrodiplomacy Dashboard serves as a key tool for both culinary practitioners and Indonesian diplomats stationed abroad. Developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the platform provides guidance for creating effective gastrodiplomacy strategies, supporting economic diplomacy efforts, and promoting Indonesia’s cuisine as a soft power asset. The dashboard is also aligned with the ongoing Indonesia Spice Up the World program, launched in 2021 to promote Indonesian spices globally.
A core feature of the Dashboard is its data visualization of Indonesian restaurants and spice and seasoning products abroad. Based on a comprehensive survey conducted from March to May 2024, in collaboration with Indonesian missions abroad, the dashboard shows that there are 1,221 Indonesian restaurants operating in countries around the world. This number highlights the growing presence of Indonesian culinary offerings on the global food scene.
The dashboard aims to provide a centralized hub for information that can assist culinary practitioners and diplomatic missions in expanding Indonesia’s culinary footprint worldwide, thus strengthening its global influence.
Moving Forward
The Indonesian Gastrodiplomacy Dashboard is a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to leverage culinary diplomacy as an instrument of foreign policy. By utilizing its rich culinary heritage, Indonesia aims to enhance international understanding, foster trade, and bolster its image as a dynamic and culturally rich nation on the global stage. The platform can be accessed online at https://gastrodiplomasi.kemlu.go.id/dashboard/.
This initiative reflects Indonesia’s commitment to embracing its diverse cultural assets as tools for diplomacy, aiming not only to share the flavors of its culinary traditions but also to build bridges with nations around the world.