Minister Of Trade Budi: Software Diplomacy Becomes Indonesia's Strategy To Face Global Trade Challenges

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Budi Santoso emphasized that soft diplomacy or soft diplomacy is important in responding to global communication and trade challenges.

This was conveyed in the webinar Collaboration of the Faculty of Communication Science, Esa Unggul University with the theme Soft Power Diplomacy ThroughCommunication, Culture, and Media, Monday, July 28.

Budi said that soft diplomacy is an effective strategy to build the nation's positive image and strengthen relations between countries through dialogue and cooperation.

"Soft diplomacy aims to build a positive image, influence public opinion, and strengthen relations between countries through cooperation and dialogue. Soft diplomacy is an important key in trade diplomacy," he said in an official statement, Monday, July 28.

In diplomatic communication, continued Budi, obstacles often arise due to differences in the reference frame or frame of reference and experience background or field of experience between communicating parties.

"To overcome this, an understanding of the approach of importance and influence strength is needed as a key factor in international diplomacy," he said.

For example, continued Budi, trade negotiations such as the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) which took more than 10 years due to the complexity of the interests of 27 EU member countries.

On the other hand, the Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (EAEU-FTA) Euracy negotiations only took about three years because it was easier to align interests between parties.

"Countries with great international influence can resolve negotiations more quickly. Diplomacy always brings national interests that are not easy to negotiate with the interlocutor," he said.

For your information, the event also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Trade and Esa Unggul University. The MoU was signed by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Trade Isy Karim and the Chancellor of Esa Unggul University Arief Kusuma symbolically.

This MoU is the basis for cooperation for the Ministry of Trade and Esa Unggul University in developing human resources (HR) through the implementation of Higher Education Tridharma in the trade sector.

The scope of this collaboration includes education, research, and community service, as well as the use of science and technology.