KUALA LUMPUR - Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar met Oman’s Ambassador Mohamed Ahmed Salim AlShanfari in Jakarta on Thursday to discuss efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in higher education.

The discussions focused on opportunities in Islamic studies, scholarships and Arabic language education, as reported by Antara.

Umar described Oman as a promising alternative destination for Indonesian students pursuing studies overseas.

“The long-standing trend is that many Indonesian students opt for Istanbul and Ankara as study destinations abroad. 

“In my view, Oman holds huge potential as an alternative, underrated destination for Islamic studies,” the minister remarked.

Umar, who also serves as the grand imam of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque, said both countries could cooperate in providing scholarships, particularly in religious studies and Arabic language programmes.

He also expressed confidence that Oman could help Indonesia address shortages of Arabic language instructors.

According to Umar, Indonesia currently requires around 2,000 native Arabic-speaking tutors for educational institutions under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Ambassador AlShanfari welcomed the proposed cooperation and highlighted the long-standing historical ties between the two countries.

He noted that communities in Oman and Indonesia have maintained connections for nearly 300 years.

The ambassador also said both nations now share similar principles in their foreign policy approaches.

AlShanfari recalled that Oman previously organised an exhibition promoting moderation in Islamic teachings, tolerance and peace.

He noted that these values have also become central to Indonesia’s religious affairs policies.

Beyond education and religious cooperation, both sides also discussed opportunities in trade.

Oman is seeking greater access for its textile products and accessories in the Indonesian market.

The two parties also acknowledged the historical role of Omani ports in facilitating trade across Asia.

They agreed that the strategic potential of those trade links remains relevant and could still be expanded in the modern era.

Both Indonesia and Oman expressed hope that the discussions in Jakarta would lead to concrete agreements across multiple sectors.

The two countries also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening long-standing bilateral ties through broader cooperation initiatives.