Jinju, South Korea. Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by Gyeongsang National University (GNU) on Tuesday, in recognition of his efforts to promote bilateral economic and educational cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea.

South Korea is the seventh-largest investor in Indonesia, with an investment of $2.5 billion in 2023.

Airlangga has actively pursued closer economic ties with South Korea by arranging various meetings with government officials and entrepreneurs from both countries since he began leading President Joko Widodo's economic team.

The honorary degree was conferred on Airlangga by Gyeongsang National University President Kwon Soon-Ki during a ceremony in the city of Jinju.

“I’m sincerely grateful for the extraordinary appreciation from Gyeongsang National University. Under the spirit of a mutually beneficial relationship, I hope the strategic cooperation in various areas between Indonesia and South Korea will grow stronger and bring more benefits to both countries,” Airlangga said.

In his acceptance speech, Airlangga discussed the Indonesian government’s Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision, which aims to achieve the status of a developed nation and become one of the world’s top five economies by the country’s centennial anniversary.

He also shared his views on the current global economic and geopolitical situations, the government’s medium- and long-term strategies to boost economic growth, and Indonesia’s commitment to global cooperation.

Airlangga said Indonesia is aiming for membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), potentially becoming the first Southeast Asian country to do so.

“Congratulations to Mr. Airlangga on his honorary doctorate degree. We proudly welcome you as one of the GNU alumni,” GNU Alumni Chairman Jeong Taek Soo said. “We highly value Mr. Airlangga’s personal and professional expertise in economic affairs and his contribution to promoting bilateral relations.”

GNU was originally established in 1910 and has become one of South Korea's ten national flagship universities. It was established in its current form on March 1, 2021, through the integration of Gyeongsang National University and Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, according to the university’s website.

The colleges of GNU cover a wide range of academic disciplines, including Humanities, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, and Education. The university is also recognized for its programs in life sciences, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, nanotechnology, advanced materials engineering, and chemistry.

During his trip to South Korea, Airlangga also met with local entrepreneurs to explore potential cooperation in the automotive, electronics, semiconductor, and hydrogen fuel industries.