Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia and Slovakia will strengthen their ties by turning their bilateral relationship into a strategic partnership, with plans to collaborate more closely on trade, investment, education, defense, and nuclear energy.
The announcement came during the first official visit of Slovakian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar to Jakarta on Tuesday, where he met with Foreign Minister Sugiono at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
"This meeting reaffirmed the strength of our bilateral relations, and we agreed on the importance of furthering this relationship and fostering deeper cooperation across several key sectors," Sugiono said. "We agreed to narrow our priorities into actionable and implementable areas, including a visa exemption for diplomatic and service passport holders, as well as deeper economic, research, and defense cooperation."
Sugiono highlighted several ongoing initiatives, including collaborative research between Indonesia's Andalas University and Slovakian partners on wheat varieties suitable for tropical climates. He also mentioned progress in defense cooperation and investment opportunities, particularly through Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund, Danantara.
Blanar emphasized shared values and Slovakia's commitment to supporting Indonesia's regional and global engagement. "Peace is not everything, but without peace, everything is nothing," he said, underscoring the countries' common adherence to international law. He also welcomed Indonesia's support for Slovakia's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The ministers discussed expanding educational exchange programs, particularly in STEM and engineering, as Indonesia continues its industrialization and infrastructure development. Blanar also highlighted Slovakia's expertise in nuclear energy and offered to support Indonesia's plans to build its first nuclear power plant. "We can offer study programs and share our 60 years of experience in nuclear power development, operation, and decommissioning," he said.
On the economic front, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding between the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency to deepen trade and investment cooperation, particularly in energy transition, food self-sufficiency, and healthcare. Both ministers emphasized tourism as a growing area of collaboration, noting increasing travel flows between the two nations.
Sugiono added that the Foreign Ministry would propose the elevation to a strategic partnership to the President for formal approval, while Blanar said Slovakia looks forward to hosting President Prabowo Subianto to finalize the agreement.
"This strategic partnership reflects a new era of cooperation," Blanar said, "and demonstrates our shared commitment to stability, prosperity, and mutual growth in the region and beyond."