Indonesia, Iran to forge closer ties as Jakarta celebrates 79th independence anniversary
By Sadeq Dehqan
Staff writer
Indonesia’s ambassador to Iran said Thursday that bilateral cooperation between the two countries is expected to strengthen in the coming years, particularly in the fields of trade, health, science, and technology.
Ronny Prasetyo Yuliantoro, the Indonesian ambassador to Iran, made the remarks during a ceremony marking the 79th Indonesia’s Independence Anniversary at the Azadi Hotel in Tehran.
Yuliantoro expressed confidence that the two countries will deepen their ties, citing the strong historical and cultural bonds between them.
He noted that Indonesia and Iran have been actively engaged in diplomatic talks to address common challenges and opportunities based on mutual respect and understanding.
The envoy highlighted Indonesia’s significant progress in maintaining political and economic stability, reducing poverty, building infrastructure, and promoting trade and investment.
He said the country’s economic growth has consistently been around 5% or higher, above the global average of 3.4%.
Yuliantoro also mentioned Indonesia’s plans to relocate its capital to a new city, Nusantara, which is part of the country’s vision to become a developed and prosperous nation by 2045.
He expressed optimism that Indonesia will become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2045, citing the country’s population of around 309 million, economic growth of 5-6%, and a projected GDP of $9.1 trillion.
The envoy noted that this year’s independence anniversary theme, “Nusantara Baru Indonesia Maju”… which implies to Indonesia’s new capital to advancing Indonesia.
He also congratulated the Iranian government and people on the successful election of a new president and the formation of a new cabinet.
Yuliantoro said that Indonesia and Iran have signed several agreements, including a preferential trade agreement, which is currently in the final stages of approval.
He also highlighted cooperation in the health sector, citing the signing of several agreements, including a memorandum of understanding on the implementation of a robotic surgery project in four Indonesian hospitals.
In the field of higher education, four memoranda of understanding have been signed between Indonesian and Iranian universities, including the University of Tehran.
The ambassador expressed hope that the two countries will strengthen their bilateral ties, particularly in the areas of trade, health, science, and technology, under the new Iranian government.