Prabowo Pushes for Direct Shipping and Flight Routes Between Indonesia and Russia

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has pushed for strengthening bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Russia, advocating for concrete projects such as the opening of direct shipping and flight routes, as well as increased trade. He made these remarks while delivering a speech as the main guest of honor at the 11th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Russia, on Thursday (3/9). Prabowo stated that the forum should serve as a platform for generating concrete agreements between the two nations. He expressed his belief that both countries can establish a competitive direct shipping route between Vladivostok and Indonesia, with predictable schedules, costs, insurance, and cargo capacity in both directions. "I believe that in this forum, we can build competitive direct shipping between Vladivostok and Indonesia, with predictable schedules, costs, insurance, and cargo in both directions," Prabowo said. In addition to maritime routes, Prabowo also encouraged the opening of direct flights between the two countries. "Direct flights will bring Russian tourists to Indonesia and Indonesian tourists to the beauty of Russia's Far East. Ships transport goods, planes move friendship," he stated. Cooperation is also set to expand into the energy, food, and industrialization sectors. Indonesia is open to collaboration with Russia in the exploration, production, and processing of oil and gas, renewable energy, smart grids, and even peaceful nuclear energy. In the food sector, potential cooperation includes agricultural technology, superior seeds, livestock, agricultural mechanization, food processing, and joint fertilizer production. Prabowo invited Russian businesses to build industries together in Indonesia, positioning the country as a gateway to the ASEAN and Indo-Pacific markets. "So I say directly to Russian business actors: come to Indonesia, work with us, produce with us, let's build industries together, let's create value together," he urged. He further called for both countries to double their trade and ensure that various agreements yield tangible benefits for their people. "Let's build direct shipping routes, let's open direct flights, let's make our Free Trade Agreement work from day one, let's double our trade, let's produce food, fertilizer, energy, medicine, and technology together," Prabowo concluded.