Jakarta. Indonesia and France have agreed to jointly develop a light rail transit (LRT) project in Greater Bandung, West Java, as part of a broader partnership to strengthen transportation cooperation between the two countries.

The agreement was announced by Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi after meeting with his French counterpart, Philippe Tabarot, in Paris as part of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“This partnership will cover knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and direct involvement of companies from both nations,” Dudy said in a statement on Friday.

The collaboration builds on the momentum from French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Jakarta in May and President Prabowo Subianto’s trip to Paris during Bastille Day celebrations on July 14.

The Greater Bandung LRT will connect urban areas in Bandung to the Whoosh high-speed train station in Tegalluar. The system is expected to ease traffic congestion and enhance intermodal transport integration.

According to the West Java Transportation Agency, the project will begin with two priority corridors: Tegalluar–Leuwipanjang and Leuwipanjang–Babakan Siliwangi. The total development cost is estimated at Rp 26 trillion ($1.6 billion), which includes supporting infrastructure. Construction is targeted to begin in 2027.

“This collaboration is a tangible step toward a modern, sustainable mass transit system. The Bandung LRT is expected to significantly improve urban mobility in the region,” Dudy said.

Beyond the LRT, Indonesia and France have also committed to expanding cooperation in the maritime and civil aviation sectors. These include efforts to boost shipping safety, port management, and aviation technology transfer.

To oversee and implement the initiatives, both governments will form a joint working group tasked with drafting an action plan and identifying priority projects.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said he viewed Indonesia as a strategic partner and described the Bandung LRT project as a starting point for a mutually beneficial collaboration.