Jakarta. Singapore’s outgoing prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said Monday that his country’s ties with Indonesia would grow stronger in the coming years, as the two nations will soon witness a change in leadership.

Lee was at the Bogor Palace for the annual leaders’ retreat with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. This also marks the last of such meetings before the two leaders step down later this year.  

According to Lee, the leaders had an “eight-eye meeting” with their respective successors Lawrence Wong and Prabowo Subianto at the palace’s balcony. In a joint presser shortly after the meeting, Lee looked back on how much Singapore-Indonesia’s ties had progressed under his and Jokowi’s leadership. Investment ties have soared, and the close neighbors managed to resolve some long-standing issues, including regarding the airspace control of Riau and Natuna islands.

“From the present leadership to the next, we are committed to looking ahead to build on the strong foundation and to expand our cooperation. I’m glad that President Jokowi and I are handing over the bilateral relations in a good state to our successors,” Lee told the press briefing.

“I have every confidence that Pak Prabowo and DPM [Deputy Prime Minister] Lawrence will continue to bring the relationship to greater heights. May Singapore-Indonesia’s ties continue to flourish far into the future, or as you would say, maju jaya,” Lee said.

Lee, who has been the Singaporean prime minister since 2004, is scheduled to step down from office on May 15. His deputy Lawrence will take over the premiership. Jokowi will pass the baton to his successor and former election rival Prabowo this October after ruling the country for two terms.

Jokowi did not talk of the two successors during the joint presser, as the president mostly recapped what he had talked about with Lee. Jokowi said he wanted to see the “full implementation” of their agreement regarding the flight information region. Under this pact, Indonesia has officially taken over control of its airspace above Natuna and Riau islands from Singapore. On the economic front, Jokowi offered investment opportunities, among others, in the textile manufacturing industry at Kendal Industrial Park.

“I appreciate the enthusiasm from 29 Singaporean firms to invest in Indonesia’s new capital Nusantara. I’m also hoping for [Singapore’s] support to build a solar-powered plant in our new capital,” Jokowi said.

Singapore has been a major foreign investor to Indonesia. Throughout last year, Indonesia attracted about $15.4 billion in foreign direct investment from Singapore. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, Singapore invested approximately $4.2 billion in Indonesia. 

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