President Prabowo Proposes Direct Connectivity Routes Between Indonesia and Russia
President Prabowo Subianto proposed opening shipping and air routes between Indonesia and Russia to expand connectivity and economic partnership between the two countries. President Prabowo delivered the statement in his speech at the 11th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), held at Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) in Vladivostok, Russia, on Thursday (9/3).
The President emphasized that the Indonesia-Russia business partnership, which had become stronger, should be elevated from personal relations to institutional cooperation. This would require clear regulations, reliable payment systems, predictable logistical matters, and agreements that remain in effect despite changes in officials.
“The task before us is to turn personal trust into institutional trust, clear rules, reliable payments, predictable logistics, and agreements that survive changes in officials,” he stressed.
President Prabowo proposed a competitive direct shipping route between Vladivostok and Indonesia. He emphasized the importance of a set schedule, cost, insurance, and cargo availability for the round trip.
“I believe, in this forum, we can establish competitive direct shipping between Vladivostok and Indonesia with predictable schedules, costs, insurance and cargo in both directions,” he continued.
In addition to the water lane, President Prabowo proposed a direct flight Indonesia and Russia. He shared that he believes air connectivity would strengthen people’s relations and boost tourism in both countries.
“Direct flights will bring Russian visitors to Indonesia, and Indonesia visitors to the beauty of Russia’s Far East. Ships move goods, aircraft move friendship,” he added.
President Prabowo emphasized that Indonesia-Russia cooperation is not limited to commodity trade, but will also be expanded to the energy sector, food security, industrialization, space, higher education, and transportation. In the food and industrial sectors, for example, Indonesia offered partnerships in agricultural technology, superior seeds, livestock, agricultural machinery, food processing, fertilizer production, and downstream for many products, such as food, pharmaceuticals, furniture, and electronics.
“So, I say directly to Russian businesses: come to Indonesia, work with us, produce with us, let us build industries together, let us create value together,” he invited.
President Prabowo invited Russian companies to use Indonesia as an entry point to ASEAN and Indo-Pacific potential markets. To strengthen investment, President Prabowo offered the role of Danantara as a bridge connecting capital between Indonesia and Russia. He also promoted Danantara and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to elevate from the early stage to project financing.
“Danantara and sovereign wealth of Russia—the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)-can move from identifying possibilities to financing bankable projects,” he stated.
The President also emphasized that every agreement made in this forum shall have concrete targets, including the project value, financial scheme, and implementation stage. “Every agreement announced must testify its value, financing and delivery milestones,” he emphasized. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RD/MMB)
