Through this MoU, Government of Bangka Regency hopes that ITB as the oldest higher education in engineering in Indonesia can contribute to the development of Bangka Regency. According to the regent, Tarmizi Saat, ITB is essential in many fields, for example in education, development of economy-business region, tourism, and urban planning.

In academic, he said, Bangka Regency needs Thematic Student Study Service to help several programs of the local governments. The government also need teaching staff in physics, mathematics, and chemistry.

“We want to share knowledge, and hopes to cooperate with ITB. Besides mining, Bangka also has potential for tourism, but we first need good urban planning, attractive buildings, and environmental management,” he said.

Representing the Rector of ITB, Prof. Bambang Riyanto Trilaksono as Vice Rector of Research, Innovation, and Partnership (WRRIM) welcomes the partnership initiative. Several fields to cooperate with relate to study programs in ITB.

Responding upon cooperation plans to be carried out, Prof. Bambang said that for the thematic student study service, it will be coordinated by Student Affairs of ITB as the management. As for design and architecture, ITB has several experts on the fields.

Concerning post-graduate program in physics, chemistry, and mathematics, ITB has teaching staffs in each fields. In tourism and urban planning, ITB has assisted various cities in Indonesia. “It was mentioned before about tourism and urban planning, we (ITB) did relatively a lot to assist the urban planning in Indonesia. Especially in tourism, we also have tourism development center, one of them is in Belitung. There are many areas where we can cooperate in. We hope this cooperation can bring benefit to both parties and to Indonesia,” Prof. Bambang concluded.

After the MoU signing, the ceremony was followed by memento exchange and luncheon.