Banda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - Wali Nanggroe Aceh (traditional leader of Aceh) Tengku Malik Mahmud Al Haytar is exploring cooperation with Russia, specifically with Kazan and Moscow, in fields ranging from climate resilience to energy.
"Aceh has beautiful tropical forests, rare animals, and beaches," Haytar noted in a statement received in Banda Aceh, Sunday.
This was highlighted during a working visit to Russia on May 14-24, 2023, during which the traditional leader was a speaker at the "Climate Resilience: Russia-OIC Countries Dialogue, Russia Islamic World Kazan Forum 2023" event and the round table "Russia-Indonesia: Prospects Economic Cooperation.”
At the event, Haytar echoed Aceh's readiness to cooperate with Russia and Islamic countries of the world in climate and environmental resilience efforts.
He said that Aceh, with an area spanning around 5,888,087 hectares, has a forest area of 3,550,390.23 hectares, or 23 percent of the total forest area on Sumatra Island reaching 13,946,946 hectares.
"This shows that the Aceh forest area has the best forest cover on the island of Sumatra. Aceh's forests also have four key species in one ecosystem and have an estimated carbon emission reduction (ER) potential of up to three tons per hectare," he highlighted.
At the forum, he said, all parties present agreed to establish international cooperation in dealing with climate change by investing in welfare projects and creating new technologies that meet environmental requirements.
Furthermore, he signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) or a letter of interest in academic cooperation in the energy sector with Kazan State Power Engineering University (KSPPEU).
In connection with the agenda of "Russia-Indonesia: Prospects Economic Cooperation," he discussed food security, tourism, and health, as well as the development of human resources in the digital and technology fields, technology transfer, and student and research exchanges.
At the forum, Haytar elaborated on Aceh's potential and the status of Aceh in the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
Haytar emphasized that since Aceh became an autonomous province, it is highly likely that it can do business in its own way.
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