East Java and Alexandria Strengthen Sister Province Cooperation Plans

Surabaya (ANTARA) - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa, together with Egypt’s Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia, Dr. Amr Ahmad Mukhtar Abdul Hadi, discussed plans for a sister province cooperation between the East Java Provincial Government and the Alexandria Government.

“Alhamdulillah, we discussed with the Deputy Ambassador of Egypt at the Al-Akbar Mosque in Surabaya regarding the cooperation plans between East Java and Alexandria,” Khofifah stated during the meeting at the Al-Akbar National Mosque in Surabaya on Sunday.

The meeting, held at the Al-Akbar National Mosque in Surabaya, was also attended by several figures, including the caretaker of the Amanatul Ummah Islamic Boarding School, KH Asep Saifuddin Chalim.

Khofifah explained that the discussion is a follow-up to the signing of the Letter of Intent (LoI) or statement of intent for cooperation between the East Java Provincial Government and the Alexandria Government, previously led by Mohamed Taher El-Sherif.

“We are optimistic that there will be significant progress from this cooperation towards the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU),” she said.

“There is potential for link and match between East Java and Alexandria, particularly in the fields of trade and education,” she added.

In the education sector, Khofifah assessed that both regions share a similar focus on human resource development, including opportunities for cooperation with Al-Azhar University.

“This can serve as an initial foundation for strengthening education, knowledge transfer, and utilisation of the scholarly heritage that has developed there,” she stated.

“This includes plans for cooperation between several NU universities and Al-Azhar in efforts to combat terrorism,” she added.

On that occasion, Khofifah also elaborated on the management of the mosque as a centre for religious and social services based on educational and environmentally friendly facilities.

“With limited land, we maximise the mosque’s functions through various facilities, such as a greenhouse, mini soccer based on Al Quran education, a digital library, up to thematic gardens and environmentally friendly facilities,” she said.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s Deputy Ambassador Dr. Amr Ahmad Mukhtar Abdul Hadi appreciated the mosque’s management, which he deemed optimal in serving worshippers and serving as a representative centre for religious activities.