Wednesday, 4 February 2026— President University held a PUAL (President University Ambassador Lecture) session at the Charles Himawan Auditorium, President University Campus, under the theme “IORA’s Global Role and What It Means for Indonesia.” The session featured H.E. Salman Al Farisi, Secretary-General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (2022–2024).

Opening the discussion, Muhammad Sigit Andhi Rahman, S.I.P., M.A., Ph.D., Head of the International Relations Study Program, emphasized the growing strategic importance of the Indian Ocean in global affairs. “The Indian Ocean has returned to the center of global trade and energy security,” he stated. He further stressed Indonesia’s active position in the region, adding, “Indonesia is not just a spectator. We are one of the stabilizing actors in this.”

In his keynote remarks, Salman Al Farisi explained that Indonesia’s engagement with IORA is deeply connected to its maritime character. “Indonesia’s engagement in IORA is closely linked to its maritime identity,” he noted. As a predominantly archipelagic country, Indonesia is inherently tied to the ocean, shaping both its geopolitical outlook and diplomatic approach.

He further highlighted Indonesia’s longstanding experience in fostering dialogue. “Indonesia also has experience in consensus-building and bridge-building between powers and regions,” he said, underscoring the country’s role in promoting cooperation amid geopolitical complexity.

Addressing current global dynamics, he remarked on the speed of change in international relations. “The dynamic is very fast. The situation changes very fast,” he observed. He concluded with a call for collective action: “The challenge is not to resist the changes, but to navigate them collectively.”