"Indonesia and France have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the transportation sector, across land, sea, and air," Purwagandhi remarked during a meeting with French Minister of Transportation Philippe Tabarot, as quoted in a statement on Friday (August 1).
During the meeting held at the French Ministry of Transportation in Paris on July 29, the two ministers exchanged knowledge and technology, as well as information on the involvement of companies from both countries.
Purwagandhi's meeting with Tabarot was held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and France.
This meeting was also a follow-up to agreements reached during the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Jakarta on May 28-29, 2025, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Paris as guest of honor at the Bastille Day parade on July 14, 2025.
According to Purwagandhi, this cooperation will strengthen relations between the two countries and boost economic growth in both countries.
In addition, the partnership is expected to benefit the people and the domestic economy while creating new investment opportunities for French companies operating in Indonesia, he remarked.
One of the concrete steps agreed upon by the two countries at the meeting was the Light Rail Transit (LRT) development project in Bandung City, West Java.
The French government expressed its readiness to support the project by funding a feasibility study and encouraging French companies' participation in developing urban transportation networks in Indonesia.
Related news: Jakarta LRT Phase 1B nears 60 percent completion, opens 2026
"We welcome support from France, particularly for the Bandung LRT project, which is aimed at providing a solution for urban mobility and reducing congestion in the metropolitan area," he remarked.
Indonesia and France also agreed to expand cooperation in the maritime and civil aviation sectors, including strengthening shipping safety and port capacity, as well as the exchange of aviation technology.
To ensure the continuation of this partnership, a joint working group will be established to develop an action plan and priority project agenda in the near future, Purwagandhi stated.
In the same statement, Minister Tabarot stated that Indonesia is a strategic partner for his country, particularly in developing environmentally friendly transportation.
The expertise of French companies, he said, will improve Indonesia's transportation needs, with the Bandung LRT project as the first step in this mutually beneficial collaboration.
Related news: Efforts to integrate public transportation in Jakarta
Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
