Jakarta: President Indonesia signs deal with France for first 6 Rafales”>Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s newly elected leader, is actively pursuing enhanced cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to bolster Jakarta’s ambitious industrialization initiatives. This marks his first official excursion to Abu Dhabi since assuming office last month, signaling a strong commitment to international collaboration.
The foundations for Indonesia’s burgeoning relationship with the UAE were established under the tenure of former President Joko Widodo, who successfully secured an impressive investment commitment exceeding $46 billion from the Gulf nation in 2021. This was followed by the signing of a comprehensive free trade agreement a year later, which became operational in September.
Abu Dhabi represented the final leg of Prabowo’s inaugural foreign visit, which took place shortly after he formally commenced his presidency in October.
“Now that I have earned the trust from my people to lead Indonesia, I want to continue our good relations,” Prabowo stated during his inaugural meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. This meeting underscored the intent to deepen bilateral ties.
Jakarta’s strategic priorities rest on critical pillars such as defense, food security, and energy security. Prabowo elaborated on the government’s ambition to implement a downstream policy, emphasizing the importance of domestic processing of raw materials. “This means we want to perform a massive industrialization,” he asserted. “In this context, we see that the UAE and Indonesia have similar priorities. We can work together across different sectors and we want to invite the UAE to actively participate in our economy.”
The meeting resulted in the signing of several pivotal agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation across various sectors, such as technology, renewable energy, infrastructure, and health, highlighting the breadth of their partnership.
“They agreed to increase trade between the two countries, specifically by optimizing the utilization of Indonesia-UAE CEPA,” remarked Roy Soemirat, spokesperson for Indonesia’s foreign ministry, to Arab News on Sunday, illustrating the commitment to fostering economic collaboration.
“President Prabowo welcomed the UAE president’s invitation to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure and collaboration in international forums to resolve global issues, including peaceful conflict resolution.” This reflects both leaders’ dedication to addressing pressing global challenges in unison.
Prabowo’s visit to Abu Dhabi was notable as it was his second trip to the UAE this year, following an earlier visit in May while he was still president-elect. He is concluding his first overseas trip as president, which also included significant stops in China, the United States, and the United Kingdom, showcasing Indonesia’s expanding global outreach.
How do you think President Prabowo’s recent visit to the UAE will affect Indonesia’s trade and investment landscape in the coming years?
**Interview with Dr. Ahmad Rizal, Political Analyst on Indonesia-UAE Relations**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Rizal. As we know, President Prabowo Subianto recently made his first official visit to the UAE since taking office. What does this visit signify for Indonesia’s foreign relations?
**Dr. Rizal:** Thank you for having me. President Prabowo’s visit to the UAE is a significant move that highlights Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening its international partnerships, particularly with key allies in the Gulf region. With the UAE being a pivotal player in Southeast Asia’s economic landscape, this visit serves not only to reaffirm existing ties but also to lay the groundwork for expanded cooperation in various sectors, including trade and investment.
**Interviewer:** Can you elaborate on the investment commitments made by the UAE to Indonesia during former President Joko Widodo’s administration?
**Dr. Rizal:** Certainly. Under Joko Widodo’s presidency, Indonesia secured investment commitments exceeding $46 billion from the UAE in 2021. This was a monumental step in enhancing bilateral relations, and it was followed by a comprehensive free trade agreement that went into effect in September 2022. These agreements have set a robust foundation for economic collaboration, which President Prabowo is now eager to build upon.
**Interviewer:** What are the key areas where you expect Indonesia and the UAE to collaborate further, especially considering Prabowo’s emphasis on industrialization?
**Dr. Rizal:** Industrialization is core to Indonesia’s economic vision, and the UAE’s experience and investment capabilities can be crucial in this regard. I expect both nations to focus on sectors such as infrastructure development, renewable energy, and technology transfer. There is significant potential for joint ventures that can help Indonesia accelerate its industrial growth while allowing UAE investors to diversify their portfolios further into emerging markets.
**Interviewer:** During Prabowo’s meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, he mentioned a desire to continue good relations. How do you perceive the future of this bilateral relationship?
**Dr. Rizal:** The future appears very promising. The commitment from both leaders to deepen ties suggests a mutual recognition of how beneficial this collaboration can be. As both countries navigate the complexities of global economic shifts, their partnership can provide a strategic advantage. Moreover, with the UAE’s Vision 2021 and Indonesia’s economic objectives closely aligned, we are likely to see a flourishing relationship with potential for significant economic developments in the coming years.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Rizal, for your insights on this important diplomatic engagement. It’s clear that both nations are poised for a productive partnership.
**Dr. Rizal:** Thank you for having me. I’m looking forward to seeing how these developments unfold in the future.
