[JAPAN-JOGJA HUB for HR, Tech, Investment, and Education] Meeting with the Crown Princess of the Yogyakarta Royal Family, Indonesia

Crown Princess Mangkubumi of the Yogyakarta Royal Family (left) and Alby, Representative of Indonesia Soken (right).

In mid-April, Indonesia Soken held a meeting with Mangkubumi, the Crown Princess of Yogyakarta, at the Yogyakarta Royal Palace. Following this, Indonesia Soken is set to be appointed by the Yogyakarta Provincial Government and the Imperial Household as the official Japanese liaison. Moving forward, the company will play the role of 'JAPAN-JOGJA HUB,' connecting Japanese companies with Yogyakarta across four key areas: human resources, technology, investment, and education.

## Why is Yogyakarta, Indonesia Attracting Attention Now?

Business discussions in Indonesia have traditionally focused on Jakarta. Recently, however, the importance of regional cities has been growing rapidly, with the Special Region of Yogyakarta standing out prominently.

Often called the 'Kyoto of Indonesia,' Yogyakarta is a unique city rich in history, tradition, and culture. It is an 'educational city' home to over 100 higher education institutions, including Gadjah Mada University, the oldest national university in Indonesia, attracting talented youth from across the country. Furthermore, it hosts UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Borobudur and Prambanan temple complexes, attracting numerous domestic and international tourists year-round.

Most notably, Yogyakarta is the only 'Special Region' in Indonesia that maintains a royal system to this day. By law, the Sultan of the Hamengkubuwono family serves as Governor, and the head of the Paku Alam family serves as Vice Governor, establishing a decision-making system where the government and the royal family work in unison. This unique governance structure makes Yogyakarta a 'strategic hub' distinct from other regional cities.

## About the Meeting with the Crown Princess of Yogyakarta

Indonesia Soken was honored to meet with Crown Princess Mangkubumi at the Yogyakarta Royal Palace. The Princess, the eldest daughter appointed as successor by the current Sultan Hamengkubuwono X in 2015, has long served as Chairperson of the Yogyakarta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin DIY) and demonstrates strong leadership across business, environmental, and social sectors.

In this meeting, the parties exchanged views on strengthening collaboration between Japan and Yogyakarta in the areas of economy, HR, and culture. Through this engagement, Indonesia Soken will act as the 'official bridge' between the two nations.

## Four Support Pillars of the 'JAPAN-JOGJA HUB'

Indonesia Soken will provide comprehensive support in the following four domains as the 'JAPAN-JOGJA HUB':

- ① Talent Export: Indonesia has a vast youth population, and Yogyakarta in particular is home to highly skilled talent. Exporting this talent to Japan addresses Japan's labor shortage while creating employment opportunities in Indonesia.
- ② Technology Transfer: Supporting the upgrading of local industries by deploying excellent Japanese technologies to Indonesia, particularly in manufacturing and infrastructure.
- ③ Investment Brokerage: Scouting investment opportunities in Yogyakarta and introducing them to Japanese firms. Collaboration with the royal family and provincial government enables access to projects and decision-makers typically unavailable.
- ④ Partnership Support with Universities: Supporting industry-academia collaboration, such as joint research and development of educational content, leveraging the city's status as an education hub.

## Projects Currently Underway

Indonesia Soken is already working on the following projects in collaboration with local government and royal authorities:

- Waste Management
- Real Estate Development
- Power Generation
- Provision of Educational Materials for Schools
- Defense Industry

These are active, ongoing projects aimed at building new business models in Indonesia.

## About Indonesia Soken

Indonesia Soken provides 'execution-oriented' services utilizing networks with the local government, royal family, and universities. Their 'Indonesia Soken Innovation Hub' functions as a co-creation platform connecting Japanese firms with Indonesia's government, academia, and industry, supporting market entry strategies.