East Java Strengthens Japan Ties, Hits $5B Investment

RRI.CO.ID, Surabaya - East Java is doubling down on its long-standing alliance with Japan, citing a multi-billion dollar track record of success. During the celebration of the Japanese Emperor’s 66th Birthday in Surabaya on Wednesday, Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak championed the deepening of diplomatic and economic ties. 

The Deputy Governor highlighted that the synergy between the two entities is no longer just a diplomatic formality but a robust economic engine. Since 2010, Japanese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into East Java has surpassed the USD 5 billion. 

The figure has translated into tangible livelihoods for the local population by creating approximately 178,000 jobs. With 150 Japanese companies currently operating across the province, the integration of Japanese industry into the East Javanese landscape has become a cornerstone of the provincial development strategy.

Emil emphasized that this cooperation, fostered under the leadership of Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa, extends beyond industrial investment to human capital development. A prime example of this evolving relationship is the recent initiative by Puger Jember Vocational High School, which is set to dispatch 75 graduates to work in Japan this year

This "sister province" framework ensures that the benefits of the alliance reach beyond the boardroom and into the lives of young professionals.

Reflecting on the resilience of this partnership, Emil expressed his optimism for the future. “Hopefully, amidst economic conditions full of uncertainty and challenges, the economic relationship between East Java and Japan will continue to strengthen and complement each other. Not only in economics but also in other fields,” he remarked during the event, as quoted by Antara.

The Deputy Governor’s address also touched upon a deeper cultural and social integration, moving beyond mere statistics to describe a sense of shared community. He noted that the presence of Japanese citizens and businesses in the region is viewed with a sense of kinship rather than just a commercial transaction.

“Every company and every Japanese citizen in East Java is a brother to all of us as fellow residents of East Java. We are one family, working and striving together to perform well,” concluded Emil.

He also reinforces the provincial administration’s commitment to maintaining a welcoming and productive environment for international partners. ***