Sisi, Indonesian Counterpart Hold Talks in Cairo

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi welcomed Prabowo Subianto, the President of Indonesia, during his official visit to Cairo on December 18, 2024.

According to a joint statement issued by both countries, the two presidents held fruitful official talks aimed at strengthening the historic ties of cooperation and friendship between their nations.

During the meeting, the presidents reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, including trade, food security, energy, defense, education, culture, and regional peace.

Both leaders acknowledged the economic potential of their countries and expressed confidence in the continued growth of trade and investment between them. They agreed to advance trade and investment activities in areas such as palm oil, fertilizers, renewable energy, agricultural products, digital economy, infrastructure, and transportation. Egypt was emphasized as a gateway for Indonesian products to Euro-Mediterranean and African markets, while Indonesia was highlighted as a hub for Egyptian products to access ASEAN markets.

The leaders praised the successful convening of the Egyptian-Indonesian Trade Committee in July 2024, viewing it as a key step toward enhancing economic relations.

They also underscored the importance of ongoing defense and security cooperation and agreed on the need to take further steps to expand and strengthen these areas.

In the field of education, the presidents highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the two countries. President Prabowo expressed gratitude for Egypt’s continued support in hosting approximately 15,000 Indonesian students, particularly those studying at Al-Azhar University.

Cultural exchange was recognized as a vital means of fostering friendship and strengthening ties between the two peoples. President Prabowo proposed the adoption of "Pencak Silat," a traditional Indonesian martial art, as an official sport in Egypt and the establishment of an Egyptian federation for the sport.

Indonesia expressed interest in enhancing cooperation with Egypt and Al-Azhar University to advance religious education and promote regional harmony.

The two leaders welcomed the resumption of direct flights between the two countries in November 2023 and discussed further measures to enhance people-to-people connectivity.

Both nations expressed their aspiration to convene the Joint Committee, chaired by their respective foreign ministers, in Cairo in 2025. They also aimed to finalize the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding and agreements under negotiation to establish an effective framework for advancing bilateral cooperation.