UNAIR NEWS  – An alumnus of Faculty of Law, Universitas Airlangga, class of 1992, Abdul Kadir Jailani, has just assumed a new assignment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. He was officially appointed as Director General for Asia Pacific and Africa on October 27, 2020 by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, SH, LL.M. in Indonesia.

In his new position, Jailani was tasked with improving and maintaining bilateral relations in Asia Pacific and African countries. “The main task is how we fight for our interests, especially in the field of economic diplomacy,” he said in an interview on Wednesday afternoon, November 18, 2020.

According to Jailani, the scope of the task was very large. Moreover, he continued, in the future economic growth and political dynamics will be centered in the Asia Pacific. “From the breadth and our interests, of course we have more interest in Asia Pacific and Africa because they are directly close to us,” said the father of two children.

Before being appointed as Director General for Asia Pacific and Africa, Jailani served as Indonesian Ambassador to Canada. Not only that, he is also the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Since joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia in 1993, Jailani has also been placed in various positions such as Deputy Director for Political and Security Agreements from 2010 to 2012. As well as the Director for Economic and Socio-Cultural Agreements from 2012 to 2016.

Jailani also has a lot of experience. He is active in leading various bilateral, regional and multilateral negotiations. Until he served as Vice Chair of the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore in 2014.

Next week, Jailani will leave for Canada to prepare for a move. Furthermore, he will start working as Director General for Asia Pacific and Africa in early 2021 and stay in Indonesia.

To the younger generation, he advised them to always study and work hard to achieve their dreams. “The key is reading. I am sure that by reading, we will have a broader knowledge, “he said.

In the end, Jailani said that the new mandate is quite challenging for him. He must fight for national interests in the international world, especially in Asia and Africa. “I pray that I can carry out this mandate as well as possible,” he hoped. (*)

Author: Erika Eight Novanty

Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh