Indonesia’s Ambassador to the UAE Judha Nugraha said Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan held a meeting with the UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure as well as Special Envoy to Indonesia Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, to explore concrete projects that can be advanced.
“The meeting focused on identifying concrete projects that can be pushed forward immediately, especially ahead of the 50th anniversary of Indonesia–UAE diplomatic relations this year,” Nugraha told ANTARA on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
He noted that several priority sectors were discussed, including oil and gas investment, the development of waste‑to‑energy projects, and the data center industry, which is increasingly needed in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).
He emphasized that global demand for data centers continues to rise, while AI technologies require large‑scale computing capacity and significant energy consumption.
For this reason, Indonesia and the UAE also discussed linking data center development with the use of renewable and clean energy, which remains a key focus for the UAE, he added.
In addition to energy and technology, Nugraha said both countries also reviewed potential cooperation in the logistics sector, given the strategic positions of Indonesia and the UAE as regional hubs.
Indonesia, he said, could serve as a distribution hub for the UAE in Asia and Southeast Asia, while the UAE could act as Indonesia’s gateway to markets in the Middle East and Africa.
Nugraha stressed that the main objective of the discussions is to ensure that all commitments can be translated into concrete action.
“The most important thing is how to turn these commitments into real action,” he said.
He added that cooperation in energy, technology, and logistics will form key pillars in strengthening Indonesia–UAE relations, while opening new investment opportunities ahead of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
Data from the Ministry of Investment shows that the UAE investment in Indonesia reached US$88.14 million as of the third quarter of 2025, increased from US$32.73 million recorded in 2024.
The UAE investments span various sectors, including electricity, gas and water; machinery and electronics; paper manufacturing; chemical and pharmaceutical industries; hotels and restaurants; and mining.
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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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