Ireland's relationship with Indonesia
People-to-people links
The connections between the two countries is evident in the bustling tourism sector, where many Irish nationals come to spend holidays, particularly on the tropical island of Bali.
A number of Irish nationals are also resident in Indonesia and have established Irish communities both in Bali and in Indonesia’s capital city Jakarta, where many members of the Irish business community reside.
St Patrick’s Day is a big event in the calendar each year, alongside St Brigid’s Day on 1 February. These events provide opportunities for the Irish community and diaspora in Indonesia to come together.
Cultural connections
Cultural relations between Ireland and Indonesia are growing, with an increased awareness of Irish music, literature and the arts.
Projects with local artists include the Ireland’s Eye visual art exhibition which takes place annually, an Irish themed “Batik” cloth, as well as a Batik art exhibition launched in 2024. The Batik art exhibition was designed by a local textile artist, representing Irish mythical figures in an Indonesian artistic style.
Growing numbers of Indonesian musicians are learning traditional Irish music, with one band, Wofton, impressing many an audience with their skills on the uilleann pipes, bodhrán and tin whistle!
Education links
Education is another key link between Ireland and Indonesia, and this link is growing stronger every year. Many Indonesian students choose to come to Ireland to study. The Embassy of Ireland in Jakarta has launched a networking group for alumni students who have since returned, and who wish to maintain their links to Ireland.
Cooperation with civil society
Ireland continues to fund Indonesian civil society groups working in areas such as gender equality, poverty reduction, rights and access for people living with disabilities, and climate resilience in communities.
These projects aim to engage with local groups in Indonesia, where they can incorporate these themes into their work, creating awareness on these issues and create new ideas on ways to support local communities.
Trade links
Ireland’s two-way trade in goods with Indonesia totalled a combined €389m in 2023. Dairy and eggs and off-road vehicles are some of Ireland’s most significant exports to Indonesia.
The range of goods imported to Ireland from Indonesia are diverse, with computers and data processing machines representing the largest imports.