West Nusa Tenggara and Qatar pursue strategic investment and education partnerships

West Nusa Tenggara and Qatar pursue strategic investment and education partnerships

West Nusa Tenggara Governor Lalu Muhammad Iqbal held discussions with Qatar's Ambassador to Indonesia Sultan bin Mubarak Saad Al-Dosari in Mataram on Saturday to explore investment and educational cooperation opportunities in the province of 5.7 million people.

The meeting focused on potential partnerships across multiple sectors, including airport infrastructure development, air connectivity expansion, and strengthening investment in local industries. Governor Iqbal presented the region's investment potential and advocated for the entry of the Qatar Fund, Qatar Charity, and Qatar Airways into NTB.

The discussions build on Indonesia and Qatar's $4 billion joint investment fund established in April 2025 through Danantara Indonesia and Qatar Investment Authority, with each country contributing $2 billion to focus on downstream industries, renewable energy, healthcare, technology, and property development. The bilateral partnership deepened further when the two nations launched a Strategic Dialogue in April 2025 to coordinate political, security, and economic cooperation as they approach the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.

Infrastructure and connectivity priorities

A key infrastructure proposal discussed was the construction of a bypass road connecting Lembar Port in West Lombok to Kayangan Port in East Lombok. Lembar Port, located approximately 22 kilometers south of Mataram on Lombok's southwest coast, serves as a major seaport for freight and passenger ships connecting to Bali. Kayangan Port, situated 74 kilometers east of Mataram, provides ferry services to Sumbawa.

Air connectivity emerged as another priority area. Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport recorded 850,319 passenger movements from January to April 2026, representing an 18.4 percent increase compared to the previous year, signaling growing demand for expanded airline services.

I presented the various potentials NTB offers to Qatar, including exploring the entry of the Qatar Fund, Qatar Charity, and Qatar Airways into the region. The meeting paves the way for investment, whether through government institutions, private entities, or private equity firms from Qatar.

Governor Iqbal said.

Workforce development opportunities

The NTB Provincial Government advocated for opportunities to place skilled Indonesian migrant workers from the province and employ vocational high school graduates to meet Qatar's demand for professional labor. More than 37,000 Indonesian citizens currently live and work in Qatar, making it one of the top 10 destinations for Indonesian migrant workers, with most employed in energy, hospitality, and construction sectors.

This regional initiative aligns with national workforce cooperation efforts. Indonesia's Manpower Minister proposed job training partnerships and internship programs with Qatar in October 2025, specifically seeking collaboration with Qatar Airways and QatarEnergy for government-to-government special apprenticeship visa or intra-corporate transfer programs.

Several prominent Qatari institutions were identified as potential partners, including Qatar Fund, Qatar Charity, and Qatar Airways, alongside the potential involvement of media and telecommunications networks such as Al Jazeera and Indosat. Ooredoo, a Qatari telecommunications company, already holds a significant stake in Indosat, one of Indonesia's leading telecom operators, following Qatar Holding's establishment of a $1 billion investment fund in Indonesia in 2010 targeting infrastructure and natural resources sectors.

Mandalika Special Economic Zone assessment

Ambassador Al-Dosari visited the Mandalika Special Economic Zone in Central Lombok during his trip to the region. The tourism-focused zone, established through Government Regulation No. 52 of 2014, covers 1,175 hectares and is developed by Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation. Investment realization reached IDR 6.018 trillion, approximately $354 million, by the end of 2025.

The zone has gained international visibility through the MotoGP Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia circuit, which opened in 2022 and continues to host international motorsport events. Tourist arrivals to the Mandalika area reached 285,003 people between January and April 2026, with hotel occupancy rates at 44.57 percent.

During his visit, the ambassador held direct discussions with ITDC to assess the project's development potential.

The project holds great potential for Qatar to invest in Mandalika.

Al-Dosari said, expressing confidence that the historical relationship and strategic partnership between Qatar and Indonesia would continue to strengthen through regional collaborations such as the one in NTB.

Governor Iqbal noted that Qatar responded enthusiastically to the opportunities presented and expressed strong willingness to follow up on the meeting's outcomes at a technical level.

There are significant long-term opportunities for cooperation, and we will soon prepare the technical steps to finalize the investment scheme and address the agreed-upon workforce requirements.

He said.