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tate university Syiah Kuala University (Unisyah) in Banda Aceh, Aceh, this week began construction on a new building for its veterinary medicine faculty, with funds provided by Saudi Arabia in line with bilateral cooperation on higher education.

Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir and Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Indonesia Osama bin Mohammed Abdullah Al Shuaibi attended the groundbreaking at Unisyah on Monday.

The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has poured a total of US$34.9 million into a project implemented together with Islam Development Bank (IDB) in Indonesia, which is aimed at improving access to and the quality of higher education through renovation work at seven universities across Indonesia.

Unisyah is the first university to start the project. Next in line are Surabaya State University, Yogyakarta State University, Sam Ratulangi University, Gorontalo State University, Tanjungpura State University and Lambung Mangkurat University, Nasir said in a statement.

Osama underlined his country’s commitment to improve science and technology in Indonesia, especially in the province of Aceh. Saudi Arabia, through the SFD, signed 11 MoUs with Indonesia in various fields worth a total of Rp 13 billion during King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud’s state visit in March, according to the embassy.