Indonesia, Singapore partner to foster globally competitive youth

hartono · May 5, 2026

Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir (right) and Singaporean Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth David Neo sign a cooperation agreement in youth development during the Southeast Asia Ministerial Meeting on Youth and Sports (SEAMMYS) 2026 in Bali on Tuesday (5/5/2026). ANTARA/HO-Youth and Sports Ministry

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Singapore have agreed to step up bilateral cooperation through youth development efforts to nurture young citizens into high-quality talents capable of growing into leaders with global competitiveness.

“Through cooperation with Singapore, we aim to produce future leaders who are adaptive to technology and hold empathy, those with a strong willingness to contribute to society,” Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir noted in a statement cited in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He formalized the partnership by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) alongside Singaporean Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth David Neo during the Southeast Asia Ministerial Meeting on Youth and Sports 2026 in Sanur, Bali.

The MoU aligns Indonesia and Singapore to pursue joint initiatives aimed at boosting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, leadership, and volunteerism by mobilizing youth organizations.

Under the new partnership, the two countries are also set to collaborate on developing a safer digital ecosystem for young residents, enabling them to thrive and create innovations.

Thohir described the MoU as a concrete step in strengthening the quality of Indonesia's international engagement and cooperation.

“This development is a manifestation of Indonesia’s youth diplomacy, which aims to ensure that Indonesian youths grow into globally excellent talents,” the minister remarked.

During a presentation session titled “Strengthening Youth Resilience and Supporting Success in the AI Age,” Singapore’s Youth Minister Neo underlined the importance of young people building resilience as the world is increasingly defined by uncertainty.

He argued that youths require support and empowerment to leverage artificial intelligence for success within a safe and conducive digital space created and maintained through collaborative efforts, reflecting on Singapore’s top position in the Global Youth Development Index 2023.

The minister expressed hope that intensifying youth diplomacy would contribute to stronger people-to-people connections, which he views as important to produce future leaders and athletes with global competitiveness.

In addition to youth development, the expanded cooperation also covers boosting sporting achievements through science and technology.