EU Ambassador Promotes the Global Gateway through Dialogue with Academia, Civil Society and Business Community in Malang

The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Indonesia, H.E. Vincent Piket is on a two-day visit to the city of Malang, East Java Province to engage in a series of dialogues with the academia, civil society and business communities; and visit key cooperation projects in the city. The visit, which takes place on 1-2 February 2023, aims to promote the EU’s new Global Gateway initiative, strengthen the EU-Indonesia partnership, and explore new opportunities for cooperation.

"The EU's Global Gateway strategy is an ambitious initiative that aims to boost smart, clean and secure infrastructures and links across the world. This strategy is particularly relevant for Indonesia as we work together to strengthen our economic and trade relations and address global challenges such as climate change and sustainable development," said Ambassador Vincent Piket. He also added, "I am particularly excited to visit the people of Malang and see first-hand the positive impact of EU support on the ground."

During the visit, Ambassador Piket had a fruitful dialogue with the academia and students at the Muhammadiyah University of Malang (UMM) and the Islamic University of Malang (Unisma). He also visited two key cooperation projects in the city, namely the Brawijaya University teaching hospital and the Co-Evolve project, which received funding from the EU to support its efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The KfW – Germany's Development Bank - and the EU have committed vital funding to the hospital to improve its capacity in the fight against COVID-19 and future pandemics. KfW’s support will enable the completion of the hospital construction, equipped with a state-of-the-art simulation centre, and infrastructure for a telemedicine network and information system. In addition, the EU has provided additional COVID-19 funding to increase the capacity of the teaching hospital’s laboratory and intensive care unit as well as their research capacity.

"The Brawijaya University Teaching Hospital project demonstrates the positive impact that the ‘Team Europe’ multilateral cooperation can have on healthcare. With the support from KfW and the EU, the hospital will have a greater capacity to provide vital testing and treatment for more critically ill patients in the city of Malang, helping in the fight against future pandemics,” said Ambassador Vincent Piket.

The Co-Evolve project, which received €225,000 grant from the EU, aims to strengthen the efforts of civil society organisations in coping with the impacts of COVID-19 and support the government in accelerating progress towards achieving the SDGs. The visit to the project was an opportunity for Ambassador Piket to see the positive impact of EU support on communities in Malang and its surroundings and further explore ways to strengthen the partnership with the civil society network.

Ambassador Piket also held talks with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (KADIN) to explore economic and trade opportunities in East Java, specifically in the greater Malang area, and discuss recent policy developments in the EU and Indonesia.

During this visit, Ambassador Vincent Piket had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of sustainable coffee cultivation by experiencing it first-hand. He visited a local café and enjoyed a cup of authentic Malang coffee, accompanied by a well-known content creator, X, who shared her/his expertise on sustainable coffee farming.

The visit to Malang kicks off a series of visits by Ambassador Vincent Piket across Indonesia in 2023 to strengthen the EU-Indonesia partnership, open new doors for cooperation, and promote the new Global Gateway initiative, which holds immense potential for Indonesia.