Prabowo: Maritime Cooperation with Britain Vital for Indonesian Economy

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto, in his meeting with British Prime Minister (PM) Keir Starmer, believes that maritime cooperation between Indonesia and the UK is one of the vital parts in the development of Indonesia's maritime economy.

Prabowo also revealed that he had met with senior officials of Babcock, a British shipyard, which would later become an Indonesian partner in cooperation to procure 1,000 fishing boats for Indonesian fishermen.

"Thank you Prime Minister, thank you for receiving me today. The meetings I attended, yesterday and today, were very productive. I have met with the CEO of Babcock. We welcome this maritime cooperation. I think this cooperation will be very important and strategic for Indonesia. I think this is also a vital part of the development of Indonesia's maritime economy," said President Prabowo to PM Starmer in the meeting room of the British PM's office, 10 Downing Street, London, Tuesday, 20 January, reported by ANTARA.

Prabowo is also scheduled to meet representatives from the Russel Group, which is a group of 24 top universities in the UK.

"In my opinion, these meetings were very productive and I highly appreciate the good relationship between the two countries," said Prabowo.

Meanwhile, PM Starmer in his opening statement highlighted several achievements that the two countries have achieved at least since President Prabowo's first visit to 10 Downing Street on November 21, 2024 until today.

"When the President was here for the first time, we agreed to establish a strategic partnership, and now we have achieved it, and I think it shows the relationship between the two countries that is growing so quickly, and it is on a positive track. Thank you also for the maritime agreement that we have signed together, even though it is virtual during the G20," said Prime Minister Starmer to Prabowo.

"The President has a lot to discuss, including the field of education, which you were very interested in when you were last here, and once again, I am very pleased that we have made a lot of progress. So, thank you, and I am very pleased to welcome you here again to continue our discussions," continued Starmer.

The meeting between President Prabowo and PM Starmer took place face to face and was closed to journalists. The line of ministers accompanying President Prabowo at 10 Downing Street was in a different room.

State officials accompanying President Prabowo at 10 Downing Street today, namely Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Investment and Industrialization/CEO Danantara Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.