Jakarta eyes deeper Singapore ties in transport and urban development ahead of 500th anniversary

JAKARTA, June 18 — Jakarta is seeking to deepen cooperation with Singapore in transportation, urban development, civil service capacity-building, and investments, as it prepares for a “new leap forward” ahead of the city’s 500th anniversary.

Governor Pramono Anung said the opportunities emerged from meetings with Singapore Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat during an event in Singapore on June 14 to 15.

“The meetings with the Singapore government have opened up opportunities for more concrete cooperation in transportation, urban development, civil service capacity-building, and investments that provide direct benefits to Jakarta residents,” he said, in a statement issued by the Jakarta Provincial Government’s Communication, Informatics, and Statistics Office yesterday.

Pramono said Singapore as one of Asia’s leading economic and investment hubs remains a strategic partner for Jakarta. Stronger ties with the city-state are expected to help attract new investments, accelerate transit-oriented development, and expand collaboration in urban management.

He said cooperation with Singapore would also support Jakarta’s efforts to expand international partnerships, strengthen connectivity, and accelerate its transformation into a global city.

Meanwhile, Balakrishnan said Jakarta and Singapore share close ties underpinned by strong connectivity and people-to-people links.

“Jakarta is a city with extraordinary energy and dynamism. More than 200 flights a week connect Singapore and Jakarta, reflecting the warmth and closeness of people-to-people relations between the two cities. 

“Governor Pramono and I had a productive discussion on how our cities can do more together, including in urban governance and sustainability,” he said.

During his meeting with Chee Hong Tat, Pramono discussed transit-oriented urban development, urban regeneration, public spaces, and improving residents’ quality of life, as well as investment cooperation and the exchange of best practices in modern urban development. — Bernama