Minister Of Transportation Dudy Invites Singapore To Increase Cooperation In The Transportation Sector

Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Transportation)

Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi invited Singapore to increase cooperation, especially in the transportation sector.

The request was conveyed to see the close friendship between Indonesia and Singapore.

This was conveyed by the Minister of Transportation when giving a speech at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Singapore's Independence which was held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta, on Thursday.

Dudy said, Indonesia and Singapore have geographical closeness, common vision, and mutual trust are solid foundations that make relations between the two countries continue to grow.

Our bilateral relationship grows on the foundation of close friendship and community closeness. This is where close cooperation was born in various strategic fields, ranging from connectivity, transportation, economic development, to strengthening supply chains and regional stability," said Dudy in an official statement, Friday, August 22.

Dudy said, this cooperation can be seen, one of which is in the transportation sector. Among them is the important achievement of the Flight Information Region (FIR) agreement which was signed in 2022 in Bintan and has been effective since March 2024.

Furthermore, Dudy said, this agreement restores air space management in the Riau Islands and Natuna regions to Indonesia, with technical support for the transition from Singapore.

"A total of 10 Indonesian personnel are now stationed at the Singapore Air Traffic Control Center until 2028 as part of civil-military cooperation in air traffic management," he said.

In the shipping sector, he continued, the two countries strengthened collaboration through the signing of the MoC on Port State Control and Flag State Control in October 2023 in Singapore. This agreement builds communication mechanisms and exchanges of information related to ship surveillance, detention, and synchronization of national regulations.

In addition, the cooperation in developing maritime human resources was also extended through the signing of the MoU in Bali in February 2025, which paved the way for joint education and training in the maritime sector.

Meanwhile, Singapore's Ambassador to Indonesia Kwook Kook Seng emphasized the importance of a strategic partnership between the two countries and how the differences in history actually become a common force.

Indonesia has made tremendous progress through various struggles and challenges. In this journey, we have also built partnerships, created new innovations, and shared experiences together," he said.

Menurut Dubes Fook Seng, dalam kurun waktu 18 hingga 16 tahun sejak tonggak penting tersebut, terdapat perbedaan sekitar 20 tahun dalam memulai proses penentuan nasib sendiri, yang justru memberikan peluang besar bagi kedua negara untuk saling melengkapi dan bersinergi.

“Kita memang berbeda, tetapi kita telah belajar untuk saling memahami dan mempercayai. Masing-masing memiliki kekuatan yang dapat membantu satu sama lain, agar bersama-sama mencapai hasil terbaik sebagai mitra sejajar. Hari ini adalah bukti bahwa kemitraan ini mampu bekerja sama menghadapi tantangan yang lebih luas, baik di tingkat nasional maupun komunitas global,” ucapnya.

According to Ambassador Fook Seng, within 18 to 16 years of this important milestone, there is a difference of about 20 years in starting the process of self-determining, which actually provides great opportunities for both countries to complement and synergize.

We are indeed different, but we have learned to understand and trust each other. Each has the strength that can help each other, so that they can achieve the best results as equal partners together. Today is proof that this partnership is able to work together to face wider challenges, both at the national and global levels," he said.