Prabowo, Starmer Discuss Maritime and Education Cooperation to Deepen Indonesia–UK Ties
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed expanding cooperation in maritime affairs and education during talks in London on Tuesday, as Indonesia and the United Kingdom move to strengthen strategic relations in sectors viewed as vital to both countries.
Speaking at 10 Downing Street, where the meeting was held on the second floor of the British prime minister’s office, President Prabowo welcomed the planned agreements, noting that maritime and education cooperation hold high strategic importance for Jakarta and London alike.
Planned maritime cooperation includes the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the construction of fishing vessels for Indonesian fishermen, aimed at boosting domestic production capacity, supporting coastal communities and enhancing the sustainability of Indonesia’s fisheries sector.
In the education sector, Indonesia is preparing to formalize a partnership with the Russell Group, a consortium of 24 of the United Kingdom’s leading universities, to expand academic collaboration and improve access for Indonesian students and researchers to top-tier British institutions.
Prime Minister Starmer expressed his satisfaction with the close relations and growing cooperation between the two countries, according to officials present at the meeting.
President Prabowo was accompanied by several senior ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Investment and Downstreaming Minister Rosan Roeslani, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
In a separate briefing in Jakarta on Monday, State Secretary and presidential spokesman Prasetyo Hadi said the fishing vessel agreement is intended to support fishermen, stimulate local economies and safeguard Indonesia’s marine resources for national benefit. He noted that approximately two-thirds of Indonesia’s territory consists of maritime areas, creating demand for tens of thousands of fishing vessels.
“We are open to cooperation with anyone, domestically or internationally, to expand our fleet of fishing vessels,” Prasetyo told reporters.
On the education partnership, Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology Stella Christie said President Prabowo had instructed his team to focus cooperation exclusively on Britain’s leading universities.
“I have personally been preparing the partnership with the Russell Group. This group represents the 24 most elite universities in the UK,” Stella said in Jakarta last week, adding that the president wants Indonesia to collaborate only with world-class institutions rather than less prominent universities.
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