Media Release
5 August 2025
Australian Minister for International Development, the Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, and the Chair of Welfare Program in the Nahdlatul Ulama Central Executive Board (Ketua PBNU bidang Kesejahteraan), Ms Alissa Wahid, signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Surabaya today.
This signing in Surabaya, where NU was established in 1926, demonstrates Australia’s ongoing commitment to building understanding and connections with Indonesia. NU and Australia have a long-standing partnership and history of working together to support Indonesia’s development at a community level. As the largest Muslim organisation, NU has a strong outreach to more than 40 per cent of Indonesian Muslims down to the village level.
The relationship between Australia and Indonesia is built on a long history of friendship between our people and governments. The MoU will strengthen cooperation between Australia and NU in the areas of disaster management, education, human development, and deepen connections between the Australian and Indonesian people through exchanges and cultural activities.
Minister Aly said, “Australia and Indonesia are close partners, with a long history of strong friendship. It’s an honor to be in Surabaya – the birthplace of Nahdlatul Ulama – to sign this important MOU, which will strengthen our partnership and support important community development activities.”
Alissa Wahid, who is the first female member of NU Central Executive Board, said, “The ongoing partnership will be strengthened through the new MoU and will impact more people within NU cosystem. Investing in the NU community will impact Indonesia as a whole. This MoU will provide assistance in expertise, exchange of knowledge and other strategies needed to expand the community work.”
Minister Aly, who is the is the first Muslim woman to become a member of Cabinet in the Australian Government, represents the community of Cowan in the state of Western Australia, which is celebrating 35 years of its sister province relationship with East Java.
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