Fadli Zon Eyes 200,000 Indonesian Students Abroad as Cultural Diplomacy Drivers

KAIRO - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon considers that around 200,000 Indonesian students abroad have an important position in strengthening cultural diplomacy. Almost 20,000 of them are in Egypt. Fadli conveyed this when speaking at the 18th International Symposium of the Indonesian World Student Association or PPI Dunia at the Al-Azhar Conference Center, Cairo, Egypt, Monday, September 21. According to Fadli, Indonesian students abroad not only bring academic interests. They also have access to knowledge, the local community, to educational and cultural networks that are difficult to build through formal channels. "The position of students is very strategic. Students are curators of Indonesian narratives, connectors and builders of ecosystems, and drivers of education and cultural networks," said Fadli. He said that the five roles that PPI could play, ranging from connecting knowledge and institutions, driving knowledge exchange, contributing to cultural understanding, to building an ecosystem. Fadli also encouraged cultural wealth not to stop at inventory and protection. According to him, cultural assets can be developed into part of economic activities and expand the influence of Indonesian culture abroad. He said the global creative industry is worth 4.3 trillion US dollars per year. This opportunity is considered to be utilized through a cultural economic ecosystem that connects cultural assets, creativity, intellectual property, production, financing, distribution, and markets. "Inventory, research, and protection must be the basis for transforming cultural wealth into productive capacity," said Fadli. According to Fadli, Indonesian students abroad can also take a role by introducing the Nusantara culture while building networks that open access to institutions and resources in various countries. The 2026 World PPI Symposium has the theme "Cultural Inventory as an Instrument of Diplomacy, Revitalization of Civilization and National Identity". The event was attended by delegates from 68 PPI countries. Fadli asked the PPI network to strengthen Indonesia's knowledge relationship with various countries through academic activities, research, works, and collaboration. "Present Indonesia through academic quality, integrity, research, work, collaboration, and friendship," he said. Source: VOI English