St. Petersburg — President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto has expressed his intention to significantly increase the number of young Indonesians studying in Russia through government-funded scholarships. The statement came following his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Thursday (June 19).
“We want to send more young Indonesians to study in Russia on scholarships funded by the Indonesian government,” Prabowo said.
The move underscores Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening educational and human capital cooperation with Russia, framing it as a long-term investment in deepening bilateral ties.
Prabowo also took the opportunity to acknowledge Russia’s historical role in supporting Indonesia, especially during the country’s early years of independence.
“To this day, the Indonesian people have not forgotten Russia’s support. Across not just our capital but also major cities, there are many large buildings, bridges, railways, and factories that were built with Russian assistance,” Prabowo remarked.
The state visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of Indonesia–Russia diplomatic relations and has resulted in several landmark agreements across economic, trade, investment, transportation, and defense sectors.
Prabowo also praised the launch of a direct Moscow–Bali flight route by a Russian airline, which now operates up to four times a week during the winter season. He stated that Indonesia is ready to open more direct air routes connecting Russian cities with other destinations across Indonesia.
