Friday, 01 May 2026
JAKARTA | INDATANEWS.COM - Aceh Governor, Muzakir Manaf, has expressed his appreciation to Saudi Arabia for its support in developing the Institute for Islamic Sciences and Arabic Language (LIPIA), affiliated with Imam Muhammad bin Saud University, in Banda Aceh.
The meeting took place on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Kuningan, South Jakarta. During the audience, Muzakir Manaf was accompanied by several officials, including Special Advisor HM Fauzan Kamil Lc MA, Dr. Suraiya IT, H. Teuku Irsyadi, and the Head of the Aceh Liaison Office in Jakarta, Said Marzuki.
Appreciation for Education Development
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Through Aceh Government spokesperson Dr. Nurlis Effendi, Governor Muzakir Manaf conveyed his gratitude for Saudi Arabia's role in strengthening the education sector in Aceh.
"We must thank Saudi Arabia, which has played an important role in enriching the educational landscape in Aceh," Nurlis said in Banda Aceh on Wednesday (April 29, 2026).
He emphasized that the collaboration reflects a long-standing commitment to advancing Islamic education and academic cooperation between Aceh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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LIPIA Banda Aceh as a New Islamic Education Hub
Nurlis further explained that the LIPIA campus in Banda Aceh will become the second institution of its kind in Indonesia. The Saudi government selected Aceh as a strategic location to support the development of Islamic education in the country.
The project traces back to an initiative by Muzakir Manaf during his tenure as Vice Governor from 2012 to 2017. At that time, he held intensive discussions with Saudi representatives, including meetings with the Imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca and other senior officials.
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"This program was initiated during Muzakir Manaf's tenure as Vice Governor," Nurlis added.
The cooperation was further strengthened through reciprocal visits by the Saudi ambassador in 2015 and 2016, as well as a visit by the Saudi Minister of Interior to Aceh in 2017.
Investment Opportunities and Hajj Services
Muzakir Manaf also invited Saudi Arabia to participate in post-flood reconstruction efforts in Aceh and to explore potential investments across various sectors.
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He also expressed gratitude to the Saudi government, particularly King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for their continued support and services to pilgrims from Indonesia and around the world, including those from Aceh. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Adli Safwan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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