Singapore PM Lawrence Wong Highlights Three Priorities for Partnership with Indonesia
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has affirmed that Indonesia and Singapore have agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship by strengthening cooperation in three main areas: energy, people-to-people ties, and defence. He stated that these three sectors would serve as the foundation for a closer partnership while enhancing the competitiveness of both nations and ASEAN.
This was conveyed by Wong during a joint press conference with President Prabowo Subianto following the Indonesia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday (6/7).
Wong said both leaders agreed not only to focus on existing cooperation but also to continuously open new opportunities for the people of both countries. This commitment, he noted, was reflected in the numerous memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed during the meeting.
‘President Prabowo and I also agreed that we must continue to look forward. By working together, we can create more opportunities for our peoples, strengthen our resilience, and make both our countries and the ASEAN region more competitive. The commitment to expanding cooperation is also reflected in the many agreements and MoUs signed today,’ Wong stated.
In the energy sector, Wong assessed that global geopolitical developments, particularly in the Middle East, have increasingly underscored the importance of energy security and diversification. Therefore, Singapore seeks to expand its partnership with Indonesia, which he sees as having significant potential in renewable energy development.
One form of this collaboration is the construction of one of Indonesia’s largest solar power projects in Morowali, Central Sulawesi, which is expected to supply clean electricity to the industrial area. Additionally, both countries signed several MoUs between Danantara and Keppel Electric, Sembcorp Industries, and Singapore Energy Interconnections as an initial step towards cross-border electricity trading projects.
‘We believe this project will be a mutually beneficial solution for both countries and serve as an important foundation for the realisation of a broader ASEAN Power Grid, thereby strengthening energy security in the region,’ Wong said.
In the area of people-to-people relations, Wong said Singapore supports the Garuda School programme initiated by President Prabowo through enhanced student exchanges. He revealed that universities in Singapore had received visits from Taruna Nusantara High School students from Central Java in April and would conduct a return visit the following month.
According to Wong, the strengthening of community relations is also supported by increased air connectivity. He mentioned that the newly opened direct flight between Singapore and Pontianak the previous week was expected to be the start of additional flight routes to various regions in Indonesia to support tourism, business travel, and community interaction.
Meanwhile, in the defence sector, Wong emphasised that the relationship between the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) has become one of the important pillars in building trust between the two countries. He also expressed appreciation to President Prabowo for his role in strengthening military ties during his tenure as Minister of Defence.
Under the Defence Cooperation Agreement, the SAF and TNI are currently exploring the joint development of a training facility in Baturaja, South Sumatra, as well as an air weapons range in Siabu. According to Wong, this cooperation will open more opportunities for both countries to train together while strengthening the defence relationship that has been built over many years.
In addition, Singapore is also committed to supporting Indonesia’s development priorities through various capacity-building programmes, including in the health and agricultural technology sectors.