Antara News are reporting that during a meeting with the United Kingdom Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, Richard Graham in Surabaya, East Java Governor, Khofifah Indar Parawansa has suggested an opportunity for collaboration.
“East Java has the second largest population in Indonesia, with 40.6-million people, according to the population census in 2020. In the trade sector, East Java has strong connections with 20-provinces, particularly in the eastern parts of Indonesia,” the governor said, according to written statement received by Antara News in Surabaya on Wednesday.
The governor said that East Java’s strategic location is supported with sea tolls. Of the 32-national sea tolls, 27 of them are from Surabaya, said the Governor, who also noted that East Java is also the only province which is granted the authority to manage docks and airports, specifically the airport in Malang and the docks in Probolinggo.
East Java also set an example for eastern Indonesia, in terms of education and medical aspects, say Antara News.
“This, of course, can be improved with synergy between the UK and East Java in the education sector, especially after Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister, Nadiem Makarim, has managed to encourage 45-UK universities to express interest in Indonesia during his latest visit to UK,” Governor Parawansa said.
She also stated that East Java’s health sector is among the best in Indonesia, thus they were trusted by the Health Ministry to cater to the medical needs of eastern Indonesia, say Antara News.
“East Java has 14-hospitals. One of them is Dr Soetomo Regional Hospital, which has the most beds in Indonesia. If there is (assistance) from UK, this will become greater,” Parawansa stressed.
Graham stated that he expected an extensive collaboration with East Java in education, medical, transportation, renewable energy, as well as trade sectors.
“We want a relation that is more in-depth. As well as a partnership planning programme on energy transitions and special funding for a renewable energy project, including with PLN for solar energy,” he said.
Source: Antara News
Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
