Egypt is a close friend and strategic partner of Indonesia, and is an important country in the Middle East, said President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, departed for Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, for a state visit and the 11th Developing Eight (D-8) Summit.

The D-8 consists of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkiye.

The Head of State and a limited entourage took off from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, at around 11.45 local time, according to the Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat in a written statement on Tuesday.

In his statement to journalists before departure, President Prabowo said that this visit would have an important meaning, considering that the last state visit of the President of the Republic of Indonesia to Egypt was carried out 11 years ago.

"This visit will be the first state visit by the President of the Republic of Indonesia to Egypt since 2013. Egypt is our close friend, a strategic partner for Indonesia, and an important country in the Middle East," d President explained.

In Cairo, President Prabowo is scheduled to meet with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, at the Al Ittihadiyah Presidential Palace.

This visit is an important moment for the two countries which have had close cooperation in various fields.

In addition to the bilateral agenda, President Prabowo is also scheduled to attend the D-8 Summit held in Cairo, Egypt.

One of the main agendas in the meeting is the handover of the D-8 Chair from Egypt to Indonesia in which the latter will hold the leadership of the economic cooperation and development organization for the 2026-2027 period.

"In the current conditions, I think this D-8 Summit is an important event and especially according to the current rotation starting January 1, 2026, Indonesia will take turns as Chair of D8. Therefore, I am present and after the summit I will also hold informal meetings with several economic figures and industry figures," Prabowo explained.

The President ensured that the government in the country will continue to run effectively during his visit abroad, in the hope that this state agenda can run well and smoothly.

“Of course, we always pray that God Almighty will bless and protect all our activities with the best intentions," the Head of State said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window