HOLOPIS.COM, JAKARTA – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that stronger ties between Indonesia and Egypt should be supported by closer people-to-people relations, including through cooperation in education.
Prabowo made the remarks during a joint press statement with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.
Prabowo said educational ties between Indonesia and Egypt have existed for decades, particularly through the presence of Indonesian students studying in Egypt and longstanding relations with Al-Azhar University.
“In education, we all know that a large number of our students are currently studying in Egypt. Our relationship with Al-Azhar University has existed for quite some time, and now we want to further strengthen that relationship,” Prabowo said, Holopis.com reported, Monday (12/10).
The president also highlighted the expanding forms of educational cooperation between the two countries. One example is the teaching of Indonesian language and literature at Al-Azhar University.
“Indonesian language and literature are now being taught at Al-Azhar University. This is evidence that our cooperation is continuing to grow,” he said.
Going forward, Indonesia wants to provide more opportunities for Indonesian students to pursue their education in Egypt. At the same time, Prabowo invited Egyptian educational institutions to strengthen their presence in Indonesia, including by sending lecturers and educators to the country.
“We also want to increase opportunities for Indonesian students and university students to study in Egypt. But we also invite educational institutions from Egypt to be present in Indonesia by sending lecturers and educators to Indonesia,” the president said.
Indonesia is also ready to expand cooperation through student exchanges, university partnerships and joint research. Prabowo also expressed appreciation for Egypt’s offer to provide additional scholarships for Indonesian students.
“We appreciate Egypt’s offer to provide additional scholarships, particularly in medicine, engineering and science,” Prabowo said.
Meanwhile, El-Sisi welcomed the strengthened cooperation. He said Egypt would continue to open its doors to Indonesian students wishing to study at Al-Azhar University and other universities across Egypt.
“Egypt is always ready to welcome thousands of Indonesian students to study at Al-Azhar and at other universities in Egypt,” El-Sisi said.
According to El-Sisi, educational cooperation is also important as a bridge to strengthen people-to-people relations between the two countries.
