President Jokowi Visits UEA and Meet The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to Strenghten Bilateral Partnership

After attending the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UEA) on Tuesday (02/11/2021). The GIA-1 plane carrying the President landed at the Presidential Terminal of Abu Dhabi International Airport at around 22:50 local time.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has begun his series of visits in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UEA) on Wednesday (03/11/2021), by holding a meeting with Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Al-Shatie Palace.  

President Joko Widodo and UEA Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Al Mazrouei walk at Jubail Mangrove Park located on Al Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi, UEA, Wednesday (03/11/2021) afternoon local time. (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Laily Rachev)

In addition to meeting, President Jokowi and Prince MBZ also had a lunch together at the Al-Shatie Palace. After that, President Jokowi reviewed a number of infrastructure development plans in UEA starting from the new office of the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, President Joko Widodo Street and the President Joko Widodo Mosque. 

The President Joko Widodo Street was inaugurated on October 19, 2020 by the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The approximately 2.5 kilometer long road is located on one of the main roads, which divides the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC) with the embassy area.

Previously,  Indonesian government had also changed the name of the Jakarta-Cikampek II Elevated Toll Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) Flyover. The name change was inaugurated by the Minister of State Secretary, Pratikno, on April 12, 2021.

On President Joko Widodo Street, the new Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) is also being built. According to Indonesian Ambassador for UEW, Husin Bagis, currently the construction has reached almost 35 percent and is targeted for completion by the end of August 2022.

In the area, Prince MBZ also built a mosque which is named the President Joko Widodo Mosque.

President Jokowi also makes a visit to Jubail Mangrove Park to conduct a review as well as to plant trees. 

Jubail Mangrove Park itself is the first mangrove park in Abu Dhabi with an area of ​​120,000 square meters which opened on January 30, 2020. According to the official website, this attraction was created to increase awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the important ecological functions of the forest. mangrove habitat that includes protecting the Abu Dhabi coastline and supporting biodiversity. 

Before leaving Jubail Mangrove Park, the President planted a tree near the tree planting site by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. 

According to Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in her statement at the Emirates Palace Hotel after the review, the mangrove issue was one of the discussions between the two leaders in a bilateral meeting at the Al-Shatie Palace. The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in the mangrove sector, including in the field of research. According to the Foreign Minister, mangroves have an important meaning in the issue of climate change and Indonesia has the largest mangrove in the world.

Ending the series of visits on the 2nd day in Abu Dhabi, President Jokowi will hold a meeting with UEA leaders and businessmen.