Egypt-Indonesia share special cultural and educational ties, says ambassador

Jakarta - Egyptian Ambassador to Indonesia Yasser Hassan Farag Elshemy has stated that his country and Indonesia share strong cultural and educational ties, reflected in the esteemed position of the Al-Azhar institution within Indonesian society for centuries. “Egypt and Indonesia have a special cultural and educational bond. This is reflected in the honourable position of Al-Azhar in the hearts and minds of the Indonesian people across centuries and generations,” he said at the 2026 National Day Reception of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Jakarta on Wednesday. Ambassador Elshemy noted that Al-Azhar provides hundreds of scholarships for Indonesian students to study in Egypt and dispatches around 70 scholars to Indonesia. Currently, more than 20,000 Indonesian students are pursuing education in Egypt, primarily at Al-Azhar. He added that people-to-people ties have been further strengthened through the establishment of an independent Department of Indonesian Language and Literature at Al-Azhar’s Faculty of Languages and Translation in July 2025. Beyond religious education, Elshemy said Al-Azhar University is now opening broader opportunities for Indonesian students to study medicine, engineering, dentistry, and pharmacy. Egypt is cooperating with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Higher Education to ensure that graduates completing their studies in Cairo can more easily obtain licences and practise their professions upon returning to Indonesia. Elshemy further stated that President Prabowo Subianto’s three visits to Egypt since taking office reflect a renewed commitment by both nations to deepen bilateral relations. He noted that the relationship reached a significant milestone through the signing of a joint declaration elevating Indonesia-Egypt ties to a strategic partnership. Through this partnership, both countries are committed to strengthening cooperation in various priority fields, including politics, economy, security, defence, culture, education, and people-to-people relations. “These visits also reflect a spirit of mutual respect and shared priorities, making Indonesia and Egypt important partners in building a more resilient, peaceful, and just world order,” he said.