Iran, Indonesia team up to advance remote robotic surgery
Indonesia and Iran have joined forces to develop remote robotic surgery, with Indonesian experts traveling to Iran for specialized training.
Indonesian Ambassador to Tehran Ronny Prasetyo Yuliantoro, praised the strengthened partnership between the two nations, emphasizing the mutual benefits of their cooperation in healthcare and education.
Yuliantoro discussed the cutting-edge surgical system with Iran Daily, highlighting its potential to revolutionize patient care by allowing surgeons to perform operations from a distance using wireless networks and robotic technology.
Last year, the countries agreed to set up the “Indonesia-Iran Remote Robotic Surgery Center.”
This venture involves collaboration between the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Sina Robotics and Medical Innovators Corporation, the Indonesia Ministry of Health, Hasanuddin University, and Indofarma Company, with the center based in a hospital in Makassar. Indonesia and Iran’s cooperation in remote robotic surgery began in 2019 with a visit from Indonesia’s then-Minister of Health, resulting in remarkable success over the past four years.
Iran’s investment in
Nusantara
The Indonesian ambassador to Iran, referring to the plan to move Indonesia’s capital from Jakarta to Nusantara, invited Iranian businesspeople and entrepreneurs to invest in projects related to the capital relocation.
He added that Iranian investors can currently invest in various sectors across Indonesia, but the capital relocation presents a new opportunity for joint participation in these projects.
Nusantara, the future capital of Indonesia, is set to be inaugurated on August 17, 2024, coinciding with Indonesia’s Independence Day. This new city will replace Jakarta, which has been the capital since independence in 1945. The capital is being moved from the heavily congested Jakarta to Nusantara, located in East Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo, about 1,200 kilometers away from Jakarta.
The construction of the new capital, initially estimated to cost 466 trillion rupiahs (around $32 billion), was supposed to start at the beginning of 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project. Currently, many buildings in the new capital are unfinished, and some forecasts suggest that the entire city might not be completed until 2045.
According to the Indonesian news agency Antara, “Nusantara” means “archipelago” in the Indonesian language and was named with the direct approval of the President. Minister for National Development Planning of Indonesia explained that “Nusantara” was chosen as the capital’s name due to its symbolic international significance, which instantly evokes the image of Indonesia as an archipelago. The naming process involved consultations with historians and linguists before being presented to the president.
The Indonesian envoy also highlighted the long-standing relationship between Iran and Indonesia, noting that next year will mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Over the years, the ties between Iran and Indonesia have developed significantly, and he believes that future cooperation will continue to grow.
The Indonesian ambassador to Iran also mentioned the educational and scientific cooperation between the two countries, noting that Iranian and Indonesian universities collaborate in academic research and student exchange programs. He further highlighted the growing economic ties between Iran and Indonesia, stating that the two countries have signed an economic memorandum of understanding regarding the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
He emphasized that there are still many opportunities to expand cooperation between the two
countries.