East Java Seeks Sister Province Deal with Samarkand, Uzbekistan

RRI.CO.ID, Surabaya - Indonesia’s East Java province is seeking to establish a sister province partnership with Samarkand, Uzbekistan, as part of broader efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, education, and cultural ties.

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa discussed the plan during a meeting in Surabaya with Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Indonesia and ASEAN, Oybek Eshonov. The proposed partnership is expected to strengthen Indonesia-Uzbekistan relations at the regional level through expanded economic and people-to-people engagement.

“He conveyed his hope that we can sign a sister province cooperation agreement between East Java and Samarkand,” Khofifah said on Saturday, February 14, 2026, after receiving the ambassador.

The East Java provincial administration is currently completing administrative and licensing procedures in coordination with Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry and Trade Ministry, in accordance with national regulations governing subnational international cooperation.

After those steps are finalized, the cooperation protocol will be signed and submitted to the East Java Province Legislative Council for approval.

The signing is scheduled to coincide with the Samarkand governor's planned visit to East Java from April 4 to 7, which could accelerate the formalization of the agreement.

Khofifah said the relationship between East Java and Samarkand extends beyond economic cooperation, citing historical and spiritual links between the two regions.

She noted that many Islamic boarding schools, or pesantren, in East Java organize religious visits to the tomb of Imam Bukhari in Samarkand, as students study his hadith extensively. A delegation from the Ploso Kediri Islamic boarding school, led by Kiai Nurul Huda, is currently visiting Samarkand, she added.

She also said that one of the Wali Songo, Maulana Malik Ibrahim, who played a role in the spread of Islam in East Java, is believed to have originated from Central Asia, including the Samarkand region. “In essence, we are building spiritual strength from a cultural perspective in the Indonesia-Uzbekistan relationship, especially between East Java and Samarkand,” Khofifah said.

Trade data show growing economic engagement between the two sides. From January to October 2025, East Java’s non-oil and gas exports to Uzbekistan reached USD 9.36 million, marking an increase from the previous year and reflecting a relatively strong average growth trend over the past five years.

Key export commodities include vegetable fats and oils, processed food products, soaps and cleaning preparations, and paper and cardboard. Imports from Uzbekistan during the same period totaled USD 43.06 million, led by fertilizers that support East Java’s agricultural sector.

Ambassador Eshonov welcomed the initiative and expressed appreciation for the provincial administration’s commitment to strengthening ties. “We have had discussions and talked about many issues. Hopefully, this will benefit both sides and further strengthen our relationship,” he said. ***