Prabowo Opens Indonesia to European Hospitals and Universities Amid CEPA Breakthrough
Main Takeaways
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BRUSSELS, Investortrust.id – President Prabowo Subianto has announced that Indonesia is now open to allowing European hospitals and universities to establish official branches in the country, marking a new chapter in bilateral cooperation following the near-finalization of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA).
The policy shift was conveyed during a meeting with President of the European Council António Costa in Brussels on Sunday, July 13, 2025, part of Prabowo’s official state visit to the European Union.
In his remarks, President Prabowo emphasized that Indonesia had already liberalized several sectors in the past two years and is now formally opening its healthcare and education sectors to foreign participation. “Any foreign hospital or healthcare institution is now welcome to open a branch or affiliate in Indonesia,” he said, as quoted by the state news agency Antara.
CEPA to Deepen Economic Ties
The move is part of a broader effort to leverage the Indonesia-EU CEPA agreement, which is expected to be signed in September 2025 after a decade of negotiations. The deal is designed to deepen two-way trade and investment ties between Southeast Asia’s largest economy and the 27-member European bloc.
Prabowo noted that Indonesia is eager to tap into Europe’s strengths in science, technology, and economic governance, while offering Europe access to Indonesia’s vast reserves of critical minerals and natural resources. “We want to see more European participation in our economy, and we are ready to be part of the EU economy,” he said.
During a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the same day, President Prabowo formally announced the conclusion of CEPA negotiations. Both leaders hailed the agreement as a milestone for enhancing trade, investment, and knowledge exchange.
Boosting Student Mobility
In addition to opening the door to foreign campuses, Prabowo expressed a strong commitment to expanding Indonesia’s student mobility program. “We are currently sending 3,394 students annually to study in Europe. So far, 11,784 students have received government sponsorship,” he said. The figure does not include thousands of Indonesian students who self-finance their studies.
The president emphasized his administration’s goal to increase these numbers significantly, reflecting a broader vision of integrating Indonesian talent with global educational and research networks.
Warm Reception from European Leaders
President Prabowo’s initiatives were welcomed by top EU officials, including President von der Leyen and President Costa, both of whom expressed optimism about the new era of EU–Indonesia relations.
The Brussels meetings are part of a wider European tour by President Prabowo, accompanied by a senior delegation that includes Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Trade Minister Budi Santoso, Minister of Investment and CEO of Danantara Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, and Indonesian Ambassador to Belgium Andri Hadi.