UNAIR alumnus named ambassador

An alumnus of Universitas Airlangga has earned recognition on the international stage. K. Candra Negara, an alumnus of the International Relations program at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) UNAIR, has been appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Mozambique, concurrently accredited to Malawi. He was officially sworn in by President Prabowo Subianto on Monday (March 24, 2025) at the State Palace in Jakarta.

Ambassador Negara reflected that his years at UNAIR, especially in the FISIP academic environment, expanded his worldview and shaped his cultural awareness. Participating in wide-ranging discussions, studying global cultures through courses on society, culture, and politics, and being part of an open intellectual community gave him the perspective now essential in diplomacy.  “UNAIR taught me how to empathize and engage with diverse cultures. In the international arena, the ability to understand differences is not just an advantage—it is indispensable,” he said.

Although becoming an ambassador was never his explicit goal, Ambassador Negara pursued each stage of his diplomatic career with dedication and a commitment to continuous development. He credits UNAIR with instilling a growth mindset and strategic thinking—qualities that have proven vital in every overseas assignment.

Assigned to Mozambique and Malawi, Ambassador Negara quickly encountered challenges unique to the region. “The lack of information exchange and the limited understanding between Indonesian and Southern African communities presented particular hurdles. But we have started to address these through a series of strategic measures,” he explained.

One of his top priorities is maximizing the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Indonesia and Mozambique. This agreement is particularly significant as Mozambique remains the only African country with such a trade accord with Indonesia. Ambassador Negara sees Mozambique as a gateway for Indonesian products to reach landlocked nations in Southern Africa, including Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi.

In addition to trade, he is also advocating for a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) designed to provide legal protections for Indonesian investments in the region.“We want Indonesian investments not only to expand but also to be legally safeguarded. With this agreement, our investors will have both certainty and the confidence to venture further into Africa,” he emphasized.