The Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, received the\nAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Yemen to\nIndonesia, H.E. Mr.\u00a0Salem Ahmed Abdulrahman Balfakeeh, at the Grahadi\nState Building in Surabaya. The meeting was highly strategic, focusing\non enhancing the existing relationship between Indonesia and Yemen.<\/p>\n
Governor Khofifah emphasised that the East Java Provincial Government\nwelcomes initiatives to strengthen ties through exploring cooperation in\nthe sectors of investment, education, trade, and culture. She noted that\nwhile technical cooperation in education and trade is being discussed,\nthe process will follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign\nAffairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the East Java Provincial\nRegional House of Representatives (DPRD).<\/p>\n
According to Khofifah, trade between East Java and the Republic of\nYemen shows a positive trend. Between 2021 and 2025, the export value\nfrom East Java to Yemen has been fluctuating but maintains an average\nannual growth rate of 24.08%. In 2025, the export value reached\napproximately USD 14.6 million, with primary commodities including\nprocessed flour (USD 5.8 million), soaps and cleaning preparations (USD\n3.69 million), paper and cardboard (USD 1.5 million), as well as glass\nproducts, processed foods, electrical equipment, and fishery\nproducts.<\/p>\n
Conversely, the import value from Yemen to East Java was recorded at\nUSD 1.97 million, resulting in a trade surplus for East Java of\napproximately USD 12.63 million. The Governor noted the high potential\nfor trade expansion, particularly as many Indonesian food terms, such as\ngado-gado, nasi goreng, and sambal, are recognised internationally.<\/p>\n
Regarding cultural ties, Khofifah highlighted the historical and\ncultural links established centuries ago through maritime trade routes\nand the spread of Islamic values. The presence of the Arab-Hadhrami\ncommunity in Surabaya and other parts of East Java, particularly in the\nAmpel area, serves as a strong symbol of this historical bond.\nFurthermore, she noted the high level of educational exchange,\nsuggesting opportunities for Yemeni students to study in East Java and\nvice versa, particularly in religious studies, to promote the concept of\nreligious moderation.<\/p>\n
Ambassador H.E. Mr.\u00a0Salem Ahmed Abdulrahman Balfakeeh expressed his\ngratitude to Governor Khofifah for the reception. He stated that the\ndiscussions focused on plans for cooperation in education and culture\nbetween East Java and several provinces in Yemen, such as Hadramaut. He\nemphasised that the relationship is akin to that of siblings due to the\nhistorical migration of Yemeni people to Indonesia, and expressed hope\nthat the plans for economic and cultural revitalisation would be\nrealised.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-java-and-yemen-strengthen-economic-educational-and-cultural-ties-1780901306", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }