Indonesia Opens Opportunities for Russian Companies to Develop Railway Corridors

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), has revealed that Indonesia is opening opportunities for Russian companies to participate in the development of strategic railway corridors.

“Indonesia is the largest archipelagic nation in the world, with 17,380 islands and a population of approximately 280 million. For us, transportation is the lifeblood that unites the nation and connects all regions of the Nusantara,” AHY stated in a briefing in Jakarta on Sunday.

In the railway sector, Indonesia still requires significant network expansion to strengthen national connectivity and support equitable development. Consequently, AHY noted that Indonesia is offering opportunities for Russian companies to participate in the development of strategic railway corridors, including the Trans-Sumatra, Trans-Sulawesi, and Trans-Kalimantan lines.

Beyond network construction, cooperation opportunities also encompass the development of technology and manufacturing for railway infrastructure, high-speed rail engineering, and heavy-haul rail systems. Other areas of interest include improving safety and operational standards, developing low-carbon railways, and strengthening human resource capacity and research.

AHY also highlighted the importance of developing modern and environmentally friendly urban transportation. He suggested that Russia’s experience in managing public transport systems, particularly the Moscow Metro, could serve as a valuable reference for the development of MRT, LRT, and commuter trains in Indonesia.

He emphasised that for Indonesia, transportation is not merely a means of mobility but a vital artery that connects communities, strengthens unity, and provides access to various economic opportunities.

As information, the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, discussed various strategic cooperation opportunities in the transport sector during a meeting with the Russian Federation’s Minister of Transport, Andrey Nikitin, in Moscow, Russia. The meeting is part of an effort to strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and Russia, specifically regarding the development of modern, sustainable, and competitive transportation and connectivity.