Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto and his Emirati counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, better known as MBZ, are expected to launch a hospital in Solo, a project backed by a nearly $25 million grant from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The hospital, which specializes in cardiology, has finished construction and is now accepting patients. Both governments are currently setting up a date for the official launch by the two heads of state, according to the UAE Embassy in Indonesia. The multi-million-dollar project comes with 130 beds, as well as cutting-edge technologies for diagnostics, therapy, and cardiac care. 

“This hospital will provide state-of-the-art and affordable cardiological services for the people in Central Java. This will slash the burden that families have to bear when they have to travel far to get medical treatment,” Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono was quoted as saying in a press statement.

While the timeline for MBZ’s visit remains unclear, Prabowo had a short meeting with MBZ in Abu Dhabi a few weeks ago. 

UAE Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulla Salem AlDhaheri said that the hospital project showed how “health is a global good that must be shared”.

AlDhaheri revealed that the project was only one of the many grants that Abu Dhabi had provided to Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

The UAE has rolled out a $10 million grant to support Indonesia’s war against tuberculosis, and another $15 million for the development of Solo and the surrounding areas. The Middle Eastern country even built the $20 million Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Solo. 

MBZ has formed close ties with Prabowo’s predecessor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. It was also during Jokowi’s presidency that their bilateral free trade agreement entered into force after just nine months of negotiations. Solo, which has become a major focus of UAE’s grants and also known as Surakarta, is Jokowi’s hometown.

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