Indonesia-Kuwait Partner to Revive Economic and Cultural Cooperation

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - A collaborative program between the Indonesian Embassy Kuwait City and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) successfully completed a strategic cultural and development tour throughout Indonesia, as announced in an official statement on Thursday, January 29, 2026.

The mission focused on bridging the gap between cultural development and economic infrastructure by bringing Kuwaiti representatives to the field. By touring both heritage sites and KFAED-financed urban projects, the organizers sought to pave the way for enhanced cooperation in arts education and professional talent exchange.

The program aims to foster long-term partnerships through direct engagement with Indonesia's rich heritage and creative sectors.

“Through visits to cultural heritage sites, arts institutions, and dialogs with cultural stakeholders, this program is expected to open strategic and sustainable cultural partnership opportunities,” the Embassy stated, as quoted by Antara.

Beyond culture, the Embassy hopes this initiative will reignite bilateral economic relations through KFAED, which have been largely stagnant since 2006 due to a pause in loan requests from the Indonesian government.

KFAED is the largest independent financial institution in the Middle East and represents a beneficial funding source because its financing does not come with complex requirements or political interference.

The diplomatic mission believes that firsthand experience is key to building a stronger foundation for future state relations.

“Through this program, it is hoped that a deeper understanding of Indonesia will be built while strengthening sustainable and mutually beneficial Indonesia-Kuwait cooperation,” the Embassy added.

The cultural immersion took place from January 16–22, featuring a primary delegation of 17 participants, including 12 high-achieving Kuwaiti female high school students and five supervisors from KFAED.

The delegation visited various sites in Bandung and Jakarta, accompanied by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, the West Java Provincial Administration and the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas).

In Bandung, the group inspected infrastructure projects such as the Padalarang-Cileunyi Toll Road, the Bandung electricity distribution network, and the Pasteur-Cikapayang-Surapati flyover.

They also explored iconic cultural destinations including the Gedung Sate Museum, Tangkuban Perahu, and the Saung Angklung Udjo performance center.

In Jakarta, the delegation’s itinerary focused on national history and traditional arts. Their visits included the Indonesian Batik Museum, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta Old Town (Kota Tua), the Fatahillah Museum, and the National Museum of Indonesia. ***