ibnchannel.id – Bali Governor Wayan Koster received a courtesy visit from Japan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Akiko Ikuina, along with her delegation at the Kertha Sabha Building, Jayasabha, Denpasar, on Wednesday (July 23). The meeting marked an important moment in strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and Indonesia, particularly with the Province of Bali.
In her remarks, Ikuina expressed her happiness to meet Governor Koster in person. She emphasized that Japan and Indonesia are long-standing friends, and her side is committed to reinforcing the existing relationship, including in the fields of tourism, culture, environment, economy, and human resource exchange.
“Bali has extraordinary potential in tourism, culture, and the environment. Many Japanese citizens visit Bali each year, and more than 2,200 Japanese nationals reside here. We deeply appreciate the support and attention from the Bali Provincial Government towards the comfort and safety of Japanese residents and tourists,” she stated.
She also highlighted the importance of cooperation in the field of environmental conservation, including coastal and mangrove forest preservation projects, which align with the Japanese government’s policies and the green policies implemented by Governor Koster.
Furthermore, Ikuina conveyed that the number of Indonesians living in Japan has tripled in the past five years, reaching 200,000 people.
“It is important for us to continue strengthening youth human resource exchange between the two countries, including through education and training. Currently, there are 6,778 Indonesian students in Japan, the ninth highest number globally,” she added.
Governor Wayan Koster welcomed the visit of Japan’s Deputy Foreign Minister. He stated that Bali’s relationship with Japan has been long-standing and has developed very well.
“We deeply appreciate Japanese tourists who respect local culture and regulations. Moreover, many young Balinese study, work, and intern in Japan. We see many cultural values shared between Balinese and Japanese society, which form a strong foundation for this cooperation,” said Koster.
Governor Koster also conveyed that the Bali Provincial Government is open to concrete cooperation in various sectors such as tourism, culture, education, agriculture, renewable energy, waste management, and infrastructure development.
“Most agricultural experts from Bali are graduates of Japanese institutions because we know that Japan is highly advanced in agriculture,” the Governor remarked.
“We hope Japan can support infrastructure development in Bali. We are ready to follow up on various concrete cooperation opportunities together with the Japanese Consulate General in Bali,” he added.
To conclude the meeting, Governor Koster presented a souvenir in the form of traditional endek woven fabric from Bali to Japan’s Deputy Foreign Minister as a symbol of friendship and cultural appreciation between Bali and Japan.
“I also plan to visit Japan next year to continue cooperation on the MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) program, which has received a very positive response from the Japanese public,” he concluded.***
