Padang and Hildesheim Mayors Sign Renewed Sister City LoI and MoU
Padang Mayor Fadly Amran and Hildesheim Mayor Ingo Meyer signed the renewal of a Letter of Intent (LoI) and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Sister City cooperation between the Padang City Government and the Hildesheim City Government at the Abu Bakar Jaar Hall, Padang City Hall, Aie Pacah, on Wednesday, 5 August 2026. “Today’s signing of the LoI and MoU is not merely a diplomatic ceremony. It is an affirmation that cooperation must be measured by the real impact felt by the community. Through concrete actions, we want to bring about changes that benefit both cities,” said Fadly Amran.
Also in attendance were the Director of Europe II at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Punjul Setya Nugraha, Padang City Regional Secretary Raju Minropa, Assistant for Economy and Development Didi Arydi, and Assistant for General Administration Corri Saidan. Leaders of Regional Apparatus Organisations (OPD) within the Padang City Government, representatives from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and delegates from the Hildesheim City Government were also present.
On the occasion, Fadly also noted that the Sister City relationship between Padang and Hildesheim has been ongoing for 38 years, since 1988. He stated that international partnerships can continue to develop through a spirit of mutual respect, mutual learning, and a shared vision for the future. Fadly Amran explained that there are two priority programmes that will be the focus of cooperation over the next five years. The first is the revitalisation and ecological restoration of the Batang Arau River through improving water quality, rehabilitating the riverbank area, and restoring its ecological function as a healthy and productive living space.
The second priority is the development of a sustainable tourism ecosystem. With its natural wealth and Minangkabau culture, Padang City is ready to develop low-carbon tourism that can boost local economic growth while preserving the environment. In addition, the Padang City Government is also opening up opportunities to strengthen cooperation in education and human resource development through student exchange programmes, vocational internships, and capacity building for educators. In the health sector, cooperation is directed at developing the competence of nursing staff and knowledge exchange between institutions.
Hildesheim Mayor Ingo Meyer expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome given by the Padang City Government. “We hope that the partnership that has been established for decades can continue to be strengthened through various concrete and sustainable cooperation programmes,” he said. Director of Europe II at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Punjul Setya Nugraha, affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to continue supporting, facilitating, and overseeing the implementation of this cooperation so that it becomes an example of city-to-city partnership between Indonesia and Germany. “This cooperation is expected to continue to develop in various fields, such as urban development, education, human resource development, culture, and other sectors that provide benefits for both cities,” he stated.