Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Jakarta is strengthening its ambitions as a global city through expanded international partnerships, educational opportunities, cultural diplomacy, and cooperation in the creative industries.
The agenda was discussed during a meeting between Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung and Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Indroyono Soesilo at Jakarta City Hall on Monday, August 31, 2026.
The meeting covered several strategic initiatives, including sister-city cooperation, the development of an Indonesia Center in New York, scholarship opportunities for talented young Jakartans, and efforts to expand Jakarta’s position as an international entertainment and creative hub.
One of the city’s established international partnerships is with Los Angeles through a sister-city relationship. The cooperation has covered trade, economic development, tourism, arts and culture, environmental issues, urban planning, education, and science and technology.
The partnership has also expanded into environmentally friendly transportation. Cooperation between TransJakarta and the City of Los Angeles has provided an avenue for the two cities to exchange experience on sustainable urban mobility.
The relationship is expected to receive further attention during the upcoming Urban 20 (U20) forum, part of the G20 engagement process, scheduled to take place in New York from September 19 to 23, 2026.
Pramono is expected to meet Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during the forum, alongside planned meetings with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser.
The planned meetings reflect Jakarta’s efforts to strengthen city-to-city diplomacy and expand cooperation with major urban centers in the United States.
Jakarta also maintains a partnership with Arkansas, according to official Jakarta provincial government partnership documents. The relationship provides another avenue for cooperation in areas including economic development, culture, and public services.
Meanwhile, the proposed Jakarta-New York sister-city relationship is emerging as another potential strategic partnership.
The Jakarta administration and the Indonesian Embassy in Washington also discussed the development of the Indonesia Center in New York, located in the area around Broadway and Times Square.
The initiative, originally promoted by former Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno, is intended to provide Indonesia with a permanent presence and showcase in the heart of New York City.
Education was another key area discussed during the meeting. The Jakarta provincial government is planning to provide opportunities for talented young residents to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees at leading universities in the United States through Jakarta government scholarships.
The initiative is intended to strengthen the capacity of Jakarta’s future talent pool while expanding international academic networks.
The meeting also addressed Jakarta’s ambitions in the global entertainment industry.
With greater facilitation from the Jakarta administration, the city aims to strengthen its capacity to host major international artists and music events. International acts such as BTS, The Weeknd, Guns N’ Roses, and Metallica were cited as examples of global performers whose presence could contribute not only to the entertainment sector but also to Jakarta’s international image and creative economy.
Jakarta is also exploring potential cooperation with the Motion Picture Association to support the development of the city as a location for international film production.
The initiatives form part of a broader effort to position Jakarta beyond its role as Indonesia’s capital city and strengthen its profile as a center for urban diplomacy, international education, cultural exchange, and the creative economy in Asia.
The Jakarta administration’s international agenda will depend on the continuity of these partnerships and the implementation of concrete cooperation programs in the years ahead. (*)
