More than 150 guests consisting of ambassadors and diplomats in Astana, government officials, parliament members, business people, academia, and media representatives were entertained by two Indonesian traditional dances, Yapong and Badinding, performed by the embassy’s staffs and family members for the very first time in Kazakhstan at the Indonesian Diplomatic Reception held on Thursday, September 11th 2014.

To give the event a patriotic start, the guests were presented with national anthems of both Indonesia and Kazakhstan played by a local quartet. “…For the last 5 years, we have witnessed the increasing trend of our bilateral trade volume, exchange of visits of our government officials and tourists, and more contacts between the two countries business people…” said H.E. Ambassador Foster Gultom in his opening remarks. After the visit of Indonesia’s President Yudhoyono to Kazakhstan in September 2013, the meetings of high rank officials have been intensified, including the recent bilateral meeting between Indonesia’s and Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministers on August 30th 2014 in Bali. To this day, Indonesia and Kazakhstan have had 14 MoUs on economic cooperation, 5 MoUs on social and political cooperation, and many agreements between the two nations’ business people.

Guest of honor Mr. Timur Zhaxylykov, the Vice Minister for National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in his remarks emphasized on Indonesia’s well-developed industry that involved manufacturing high technological products, such as electronics, vehicle and medicines, which made Indonesia a priority in Kazakhstan’s international relation. Nonetheless, Mr. Zhaxylykov also mentioned that the two nations’ potential for mutual cooperation had not been fully used.

The evening only got more exiting after the guests were introduced to the Indonesian ritual of "Potong Tumpeng" by Indonesian Ambassador along with other ASEAN Ambassadors (Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam). The first cut of the top of the Tumpeng was given to the Vice Minister for National Economy of the Republic Kazakhstan. The guests also walked away with Indonesian souvenirs and brochures about Indonesian tourism also general information on the Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2014 which is going to be held in Jakarta, October 8th – 12th October 2014.

The embassy also gave some good treatment for taste buds by indulging the distinguished guests with Indonesian food and drinks such as Gado-gado, soto betawi, siomay, nasi goreng, bandrek and kopi luwak while enjoying the live music from the quartet band.