More than 150 Cambodians who were educated in Indonesia came together for a reunion in Phnom Penh on August 30. They reached a landmark decision and will form the Indonesian Alumni Association in Cambodia.
The gathering, held at the Himawari Hotel and organised by the Indonesian embassy to Cambodia, brought together alumni from across different generations — some dating back to the early 1990s — many of whom have since gone on to become senior government officials, academics, business leaders and community figures.
Indonesian ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto hailed the initiative as a reflection of the close bonds linking the two nations.
“This is clear evidence of the deep and enduring ties between Cambodia and Indonesia. Ties forged during the alumni’s stay in Indonesia, which were then preserved, nurtured and strengthened over the years,” he said.
Man Sokry, a graduate of Bogor Agricultural Institute and now secretary of state at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, spoke on behalf of the alumni.
He said a formal association would provide a platform for networking and professional growth, while also contributing to stronger bilateral relations.
The participants elected an interim leadership team headed by Loh Man, tasked with drafting a charter, registering the group with Cambodian authorities and preparing for the election of its first official management board. The association is expected to be formally launched next year.
Indonesia has for decades been a key education destination for Cambodian students, with hundreds benefiting from government scholarships such as the Darmasiswa program, the KNB Scholarship and the Arts and Culture Scholarship (BSBI).
Notably, many members of Cambodia’s Muslim community have pursued higher studies at Indonesian universities.
Ambassador Santo expressed confidence that the new association would become “a bridge for future cooperation in various fields” and encouraged more Cambodian students to consider studying in Indonesia.
