Rome, February 7, 2025 – The Europe Today: Indonesian House Speaker Puan Maharani expressed hope for enhanced bilateral relations between Indonesia and Italy during a meeting with Lorenzo Fontana, the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy, in Italy on Thursday.
Maharani emphasized the importance of strengthening parliamentary cooperation between the two nations, highlighting that parliamentary diplomacy plays a crucial role in complementing intergovernmental diplomacy. “The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) recognizes the need to encourage closer inter-parliamentary dialogue and parliamentary diplomacy, both bilaterally, regionally, and globally,” she remarked.
To further foster parliamentary diplomacy, her office has established a Bilateral Cooperation Group (GKSB) between the Indonesian House of Representatives and Italy, as part of a broader initiative involving the creation of 102 GKSBs by DPR RI on January 30.
“Parliamentary diplomacy is vital in bridging differences between countries amidst the global challenges we face, such as increasing geopolitical tensions, wars, conflicts, great power competition, and climate change,” Maharani added.
Maharani also expressed her appreciation for the positive state of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Italy. She emphasized the need to follow up on various cooperation matters, particularly considering the shared democratic values of both nations. Additionally, she noted the growing significance of economic cooperation, particularly as Indonesia has officially joined the BRICS economic bloc, alongside Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
“The cooperation between Indonesia and Italy needs to be strengthened across several sectors, including education, culture, industry, and agriculture,” Maharani stressed.
In the education sector, Maharani proposed the development of joint programs between Indonesian and Italian universities, including joint degree programs, lecturer and student exchanges, as well as collaborative research and international publications. She also advocated for stronger people-to-people ties, particularly through tourism, youth exchange programs, religious leader exchanges, scholarships, and more robust interfaith dialogue.
On the defense front, Maharani lauded the recent cooperation between the two nations, noting that the Indonesian Navy had acquired two warships from the Italian company Fincantieri. The KRI Brawijaya 320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi 321, purchased on January 29, 2025, will serve to strengthen Indonesia’s maritime defense capabilities.
In closing, Maharani extended an invitation to Fontana for an official visit to Indonesia, further emphasizing the importance of continued diplomatic engagement and collaboration between the two countries.
