Turkey, Indonesia sign letter of intent on education

ANKARA

Turkey’s Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) signed a letter of intent Monday with Indonesia's main Islamic non-governmental organization to increase education opportunities through cooperation between Turkey and Indonesia.

Representatives of the Muhammadiyah organization visited the Turkish capital Ankara and discussed Turkey's scholarship programs with the YTB along with opportunities for cooperation.

Indonesia's ambassador to Turkey Lalu Muhammed Iqbal took part in the signing ceremony.

YTB chairman Abdullah Eren said the organization is a diaspora institution that aims to maintain ties with citizens living abroad to their motherland and mother tongue.

Eren noted that 17,000 international students from 170 countries are in Turkey with YTB scholarships.

He said Turkey attaches importance to the development of relations between the YTB and Indonesia.

"We already have 230 students with scholarships from Indonesia.”

This year, the number of scholarship students from Indonesia totaled around 60, he added.