President Prabowo to Undertake State Visit to France to Boost Strategic Cooperation
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono announced that President Prabowo Subianto will soon undertake a state visit to France as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.
Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, the minister said preparations are underway for the visit, which is expected to further deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.
Sugiono noted that President Prabowo had previously visited Paris on April 14, where he held a closed-door meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. During the discussions, both leaders explored avenues to enhance bilateral ties and expand collaboration in key strategic areas.
He highlighted the defence industry as a major area of cooperation, noting that Indonesia sources primary weapon systems from France. However, he emphasized that future engagement would go beyond procurement to include technology transfer and the development of domestic capabilities.
“This would enable what is referred to as ‘beyond procurement’ cooperation. We are not merely purchasing, but also undertaking technology transfer and gaining technological mastery of the equipment we acquire,” Sugiono stated.
In addition to defence, both sides discussed expanding cooperation in education—particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)—to support innovation and technical expertise. Other sectors of collaboration include energy, critical minerals, creative economy, infrastructure, and transportation.
The foreign minister underscored that the personal rapport between President Prabowo and President Macron serves as a valuable asset in advancing bilateral ties. He described France as a strategic partner of Indonesia and noted that efforts are underway to further enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Prabowo has visited France three times since assuming office, reflecting the growing importance of Indonesia-France relations in the evolving global landscape.
