Enviro News Asia, Washington, D.C. — Indonesia’s Ambassador to the United States, Indroyono Soesilo, engaged multiple members of the U.S. Congress over the past month to strengthen bilateral cooperation and communicate Indonesia’s current policy priorities. The series of meetings in Washington, D.C., aimed to expand understanding among lawmakers whose decisions influence federal policy and reflect the interests of their constituents across various states.
Ambassador Indroyono met Representative Ami Bera of California to discuss Indonesia’s role in the Pacific region and the long-standing cultural ties between Indonesia and California, a state with a significant Asian diaspora. He encouraged the expansion of academic collaboration between the University of California–Davis and Indonesian institutions, building on existing cooperation with Indonesia’s LPDP scholarship fund. Both sides also noted the potential to accelerate the Sister City partnership between Jakarta and Los Angeles.
The Ambassador also conferred with Representative Ed Case of Hawaii on Indonesia’s strategic position in the Pacific and ongoing efforts to maintain regional stability. Representative Case highlighted security dynamics in the South China Sea and affirmed the need for stronger U.S. attention toward Indonesia. He advised enhancing collaboration with the East-West Center in Honolulu and invited the Ambassador to visit the U.S. Pacific Command.
During discussions with Representative Rudy Yakym of Indiana, the Ambassador addressed U.S. industry demand for Indonesian meranti wood, particularly for recreational vehicle manufacturing in Indiana. Representative Yakym, a member of the Congressional Friends of Indonesia Caucus, pledged support to ease regulatory processes to ensure timely and adequate shipment of Indonesian wood materials. Ambassador Indroyono committed to organizing a workshop in Bloomington, Indiana, following Indonesia’s participation in the UN Forest Forum in New York in May 2026.
In a meeting with Representative Young Kim of California, the Ambassador reaffirmed Indonesia’s position as a moderate democracy and a key stabilizing force in ASEAN. Representative Kim, who chairs the Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, acknowledged Indonesia’s growing relevance amid global interest in critical mineral supply chains, including rare earth elements for which Indonesia holds considerable potential reserves.
Ambassador Indroyono and the Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s Director General for American and European Affairs, Kamaprapdipta Ismono, also met Representative Carol Miller of West Virginia to review the implementation of the U.S.–Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in 2023. The discussion covered cooperation in oil, gas, and coal sectors, which are central to West Virginia’s economy. Representative Miller, who leads the Indonesia Caucus in Congress, expressed her commitment to strengthening bipartisan support for U.S. policy engagement with Indonesia.
The Ambassador invited members of Congress and the U.S. Senate to visit Indonesia in 2026 to broaden legislative participation in the Congressional Friends of Indonesia Caucus and deepen long-term parliamentary collaboration. (*)
