At a glance

• 1956: Bulgaria and Indonesia establish diplomatic relations (20 September)
• 118th: Bulgaria's Independence Day, marked on 21 September 2026
• 183.4 million: Indonesians of working age in 2025
• 208 million: Projected working-age Indonesians by 2045 

The room was full of ministers and ambassadors, and Ambassador Dr. Tanya Dimitrova asked them to do something unusual. After each line of her speech, they had to answer back with one word: "Cakep!"

It sounds like a party trick. But it closed an evening about 70 years of Bulgaria Indonesia relations, and about something very practical: jobs.

What Happened in Jakarta on 21 September 2026?

The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria hosted a reception at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta on Monday, 21 September 2026. It marked Bulgaria's 118th Independence Day and 70 years of diplomatic relations with Indonesia, which began on 20 September 1956. Ambassador Dr. Tanya Dimitrova led the evening. Entry was by invitation, so no ticket price was announced.

Indonesia's Minister of Migrant Worker Protection, Mukhtarudin, and Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Stella Christie were among the guests. So were several foreign ambassadors, including those from Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

On stage, a golden "70" glowed beside temple and cathedral skylines, with the flags of Indonesia, Bulgaria and the European Union close by.

How Strong Are Bulgaria Indonesia Relations After 70 Years?
Stronger than the calendar suggests, and the proof is recent. On 12 September, a bust of Vasil Levski, a Bulgarian national hero, was unveiled at the Bulgarian Embassy in Jakarta. Two days later, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investment and Industry Alexander Poulev visited Indonesia and met Indonesian business leaders.

The visits go both ways. Last year, Bulgaria's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs came to Indonesia. This year, Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Anis Matta travelled to Bulgaria. On the night of the reception, officials also held another round of political consultations at Director General level.

Why Does This Matter for Indonesian Workers?

Minister Mukhtarudin, who also heads BP2MI, the migrant worker protection agency, made the pitch. Indonesia had about 183.4 million people of working age in 2025, and that is projected to reach around 208 million by 2045. Bulgaria, like several European countries, has an ageing population and needs workers.

Indonesian migrant workers are already in Bulgaria, mostly in hospitality. He wants cooperation to reach other formal sectors too.

"The demographic differences between Indonesia and Bulgaria open wider labor cooperation, so Indonesian migrant workers can help meet Bulgaria's labor needs safely, skillfully and to mutual benefit."
  Minister Mukhtarudin, Minister of Migrant Worker Protection.

He also called Bulgaria a strategic door to Europe as an EU member, including through the Indonesia-EU CEPA trade agreement. So the story is about more than friendship. It is about routes for skills, trade and people.

What Does "Cakep!" Mean at a Diplomatic Event?

"Cakep" is casual Indonesian slang for something good-looking or great. Hearing it answered back to a European ambassador, at a hotel in Jakarta, is not something diplomacy usually sounds like.

Dimitrova kept the lines short. "Persahabatan makin erat," friendship growing closer, and the room answered "Cakep!" Then "Kerja sama makin kuat," cooperation growing stronger. "Cakep!" The final line, "Bersama untuk masa depan," meant together for the future.

Picture a room full of formal titles, all answering in unison with the same casual word. Her earlier line explained why: friendship grows best when people meet, talk and share good food.

Was the Embassy There From Day One?

Here is the part most people miss. The two countries established relations in 1956, but Bulgaria only opened its embassy in Jakarta in October 1958. Indonesia opened its embassy in Sofia in 1960. The friendship began on paper, and the buildings came later.

So is the friendship real? A room answering "Cakep!" in unison is hard to fake. The next test is quieter: safe jobs, skilled workers and fair deals.