Logam42
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No one has been talking about this so I guess I'll share a bit on the Indonesia-Africa Infrastructure dialogue that happened a few weeks ago:
Dialogue: Indonesia’s increasing presence in Africa
Brand new: State-owned construction company PT Wijaya Karya (WIKA) has built 1,000 apartments with all amenities in Ain Defla, Algeria.(Courtetsy of PT Wijaya Karya (WIKA))
Indonesia is ubiquitous in Africa. Many Africans love Indonesian batik shirts, instant noodles and quality paper. Hundreds of African students study in Indonesia with scholarships from the Indonesian government.
Indonesia has had close relations with almost all African countries for several decades. Politically, both Indonesia and Africa are very close, and there are no major differences between them on many international issues.
Indonesia is well-known all over Africa because of strong support and solidarity with African people during the struggle for freedom from colonial rule in the 1950s. Indonesia and its beautiful city Bandung became very popular because of the historic Bandung Conference popularly known as the Asia-Africa Conference in 1955. This conference gave birth to the Non-Aligned Movement.
With its 265 million population and enormous natural resources, Indonesia — a member of the Group of 20 — offers huge potential for African countries. Likewise with its 1.32 billion population of mostly young people, Africa also provides many opportunities for Indonesia.
Economic relations have been growing at a faster pace in recent years, especially under President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who wants to engage Africa economically and enhance cooperation in all sectors.
For example, bilateral trade between Indonesia and African countries reached US$11.25 billion in 2018, a 236 percent increase from $4.77 billion in 2009. Now Indonesia is planning to enhance its investments and cooperation in the development of infrastructure in Africa through the first-ever Indonesia-Africa Infrastructure Dialogue (IAID) in Bali, to be held from Aug. 20 to 21.
During the two-day dialogue, to be attended by 700 delegates from Indonesia and Africa, Indonesia will launch new initiatives for Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with key African countries. These will certainly boost trade in the coming years.
Indonesia mainly exports palm oil, rubber, paper, garments and food and beverages to Africa, while African countries export mainly crude oil, cocoa beans, cotton, tobacco, chemicals and fertilizer.
Several Indonesian companies are already present in Africa, and many more are expected to follow after the IAID meeting.
For example, state-owned construction company PT Wijaya Karya, which has projects in Algeria and Niger, is planning to sign Rp 2 trillion worth of infrastructure and construction projects soon in Zanzibar, Senegal and Ivory Coast.
Privately owned Indofood, Indorama, Wings Group and Sinar Antjol have plants in African countries. There is a huge potential out there.
State-owned companies like Dirgantara Indonesia regularly sell top products to African countries, backed by Indonesia Eximbank financing scheme.
Indonesia is dependent on Africa for its energy needs. It regularly imports oil from countries like Nigeria, Angola, Algeria and Equatorial Guinea.
These collaborations reflect an equal and mutually beneficial relationship between Indonesia and Africa. They are also a token of Indonesia’s commitment to move together with Africa toward a prosperous future.
In an effort to focus more on Africa, Indonesia has 16 embassies, a consulate general in Cape Town in South Africa and a number of honorary consuls. With the increasing interaction and more economic engagement, Indonesia may open more diplomatic missions in the future.
Africa is indeed an important continent politically as it has 54 countries. That means 54 votes at the United Nations. It is also a major destination for Indonesia’s trade and investment. Africa is proven to be a vital hub for geostrategic interests of Indonesia.
____________________
Poster's Note: Indonesia is investing quite a lot in its diplomatic network in Africa. Good thing too since its basically paying catchup after the trade war heated up. A lot of good will come from this as Indonesia has a good reputation in Africa since we don't engage in neither western style "AID" or Chinese type "debt trap".
Furthermore, rumor has it the foreign ministry will have its portfolio boosted so that it can have more authority in supporting international trade. Long time coming really the foreign ministry is already doing wonders despite their tiny budget and limited authority as is.
Interested if Retno will remain FM in next cabinet or if someone else will fill the job. So far, I'd consider her tenure as "competent, if uninspiring". Although she hasn't made groundbreaking successes, simply the lack of screw ups points to a very competent minister. Sometimes though, I hope we have a more ambitious one since Jokowi's interests in Foreign Affairs is quite narrow and delegates a lot of the diplomacy to JK, LBH, and Retno.
____________________
Indonesia lures nontraditional African markets
Vice President Jusuf Kalla (center), accompanied by Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (right), speaks to participants of the Indonesian-African Forum (IAF) in Nusa Dua, Bali on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the event on April 10, 2018.(JP/ Nyoman Budhiana)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said Indonesia is ready to cooperate with countries in Africa in the face of the global trade war, as Indonesia seeks new opportunities to expand its trade and investment portfolio in nontraditional markets.
Jokowi officially opened the 2019 Indonesia-Africa Infrastructure Dialogue (IAID) in Nusa Dua, Bali on Tuesday.
"The heated trade war and global economic crisis, conflicts between countries, [and] development gaps have caused uncertainty. Indonesia and Africa must agree to strengthen solidarity to improve the region and the world. We have to work hard to turn uncertainty into certainty,” he said in his opening speech, as quoted from a press statement.
Having started early last year, the ongoing trade war has seen China and the United States impose sanctions and tariffs on each other. It has caused a slump in Southeast Asian exports, economists have said. Bloomberg reported that the region’s economy was seen weakening to 4.8 percent this year and 4.7 percent in 2020 from 5.3 percent last year, according to Oxford’s lead Asia economist Sian Fenner. Africa, meanwhile, has been largely ignored in the US-China trade war.
Indonesia, Jokowi said, is a true friend of African countries and stands ready to become partners to improve the welfare of African people by building infrastructure and boosting trade on the continent.
"Indonesia is ready to share experiences and help to build infrastructure. Indonesian [state-owned companies] and private companies have sufficient strength and experience,” he said.
The two-day 2019 IAID was attended by around 700 business leaders, policymakers, senior government officials and ministers, as well as other stakeholders from Indonesia and Africa. The participants discussed concrete efforts that could be made to improve economic diplomacy, connectivity, social infrastructure and tourism, energy and mining, financing schemes, as well as trade and development cooperation.
Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who is also the chair of the Indonesia-Africa infrastructure development task force, held a series of bilateral meetings with several African countries, including Equatorial Guinea and Madagascar, as well as with a representative from the African Union on Tuesday.
This year, Indonesia and African countries recorded dozens of business deals valued at US$822 million on infrastructure, textiles, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, financing, mining, transportation and commodity trading, a significant increase from last year’s deals worth $586 million, according to Luhut's office.
Indonesia has also launched negotiations for preferential trade agreements with Mauritius and Djibouti.
Indonesia's economic ties with African nations continues to see significant progress. Trade value between Indonesia and Africa reached more than Rp 156 trillion (US$11.06 billion) last year, a 25 percent increase from the previous year. More Indonesian companies have now entered Africa, with around 30 Indonesian companies investing in Africa, including 16 in Nigeria and five in Ethiopia.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the two-day IAID is a follow up to the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in 2018 -- both events provide strategic platforms for better cooperation between Indonesia and Africa, especially on infrastructure.
"Different from the past, the Foreign Affairs Ministry is now handling not only foreign policy, but also economic diplomacy. And in carrying out economic diplomacy, we involve technical ministries and even state-owned enterprises in a comprehensive mission," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said.
The event was concluded on Wednesday with Indonesia reiterating its commitment to initiating dialogues with Africa.
____________________________
... Indonesian trade in 2017 was more than 300 Billion USD. That means the entire continent is less then 5% of our trade value. Hopefully it'll accelerate even further after the diplomatic network expansion and after the Africans realise Indonesian companies are reliable, affordable, and ready to negotiate. As it stands I daresay many african nations are better clients compared to some of our traditional markets in southeast asia
Dialogue: Indonesia’s increasing presence in Africa
Brand new: State-owned construction company PT Wijaya Karya (WIKA) has built 1,000 apartments with all amenities in Ain Defla, Algeria.(Courtetsy of PT Wijaya Karya (WIKA))
Indonesia is ubiquitous in Africa. Many Africans love Indonesian batik shirts, instant noodles and quality paper. Hundreds of African students study in Indonesia with scholarships from the Indonesian government.
Indonesia has had close relations with almost all African countries for several decades. Politically, both Indonesia and Africa are very close, and there are no major differences between them on many international issues.
Indonesia is well-known all over Africa because of strong support and solidarity with African people during the struggle for freedom from colonial rule in the 1950s. Indonesia and its beautiful city Bandung became very popular because of the historic Bandung Conference popularly known as the Asia-Africa Conference in 1955. This conference gave birth to the Non-Aligned Movement.
With its 265 million population and enormous natural resources, Indonesia — a member of the Group of 20 — offers huge potential for African countries. Likewise with its 1.32 billion population of mostly young people, Africa also provides many opportunities for Indonesia.
Economic relations have been growing at a faster pace in recent years, especially under President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who wants to engage Africa economically and enhance cooperation in all sectors.
For example, bilateral trade between Indonesia and African countries reached US$11.25 billion in 2018, a 236 percent increase from $4.77 billion in 2009. Now Indonesia is planning to enhance its investments and cooperation in the development of infrastructure in Africa through the first-ever Indonesia-Africa Infrastructure Dialogue (IAID) in Bali, to be held from Aug. 20 to 21.
During the two-day dialogue, to be attended by 700 delegates from Indonesia and Africa, Indonesia will launch new initiatives for Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with key African countries. These will certainly boost trade in the coming years.
Indonesia mainly exports palm oil, rubber, paper, garments and food and beverages to Africa, while African countries export mainly crude oil, cocoa beans, cotton, tobacco, chemicals and fertilizer.
Several Indonesian companies are already present in Africa, and many more are expected to follow after the IAID meeting.
For example, state-owned construction company PT Wijaya Karya, which has projects in Algeria and Niger, is planning to sign Rp 2 trillion worth of infrastructure and construction projects soon in Zanzibar, Senegal and Ivory Coast.
Privately owned Indofood, Indorama, Wings Group and Sinar Antjol have plants in African countries. There is a huge potential out there.
State-owned companies like Dirgantara Indonesia regularly sell top products to African countries, backed by Indonesia Eximbank financing scheme.
Indonesia is dependent on Africa for its energy needs. It regularly imports oil from countries like Nigeria, Angola, Algeria and Equatorial Guinea.
These collaborations reflect an equal and mutually beneficial relationship between Indonesia and Africa. They are also a token of Indonesia’s commitment to move together with Africa toward a prosperous future.
In an effort to focus more on Africa, Indonesia has 16 embassies, a consulate general in Cape Town in South Africa and a number of honorary consuls. With the increasing interaction and more economic engagement, Indonesia may open more diplomatic missions in the future.
Africa is indeed an important continent politically as it has 54 countries. That means 54 votes at the United Nations. It is also a major destination for Indonesia’s trade and investment. Africa is proven to be a vital hub for geostrategic interests of Indonesia.
____________________
Poster's Note: Indonesia is investing quite a lot in its diplomatic network in Africa. Good thing too since its basically paying catchup after the trade war heated up. A lot of good will come from this as Indonesia has a good reputation in Africa since we don't engage in neither western style "AID" or Chinese type "debt trap".
Furthermore, rumor has it the foreign ministry will have its portfolio boosted so that it can have more authority in supporting international trade. Long time coming really the foreign ministry is already doing wonders despite their tiny budget and limited authority as is.
Interested if Retno will remain FM in next cabinet or if someone else will fill the job. So far, I'd consider her tenure as "competent, if uninspiring". Although she hasn't made groundbreaking successes, simply the lack of screw ups points to a very competent minister. Sometimes though, I hope we have a more ambitious one since Jokowi's interests in Foreign Affairs is quite narrow and delegates a lot of the diplomacy to JK, LBH, and Retno.
____________________
Indonesia lures nontraditional African markets
Vice President Jusuf Kalla (center), accompanied by Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (right), speaks to participants of the Indonesian-African Forum (IAF) in Nusa Dua, Bali on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the event on April 10, 2018.(JP/ Nyoman Budhiana)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said Indonesia is ready to cooperate with countries in Africa in the face of the global trade war, as Indonesia seeks new opportunities to expand its trade and investment portfolio in nontraditional markets.
Jokowi officially opened the 2019 Indonesia-Africa Infrastructure Dialogue (IAID) in Nusa Dua, Bali on Tuesday.
"The heated trade war and global economic crisis, conflicts between countries, [and] development gaps have caused uncertainty. Indonesia and Africa must agree to strengthen solidarity to improve the region and the world. We have to work hard to turn uncertainty into certainty,” he said in his opening speech, as quoted from a press statement.
Having started early last year, the ongoing trade war has seen China and the United States impose sanctions and tariffs on each other. It has caused a slump in Southeast Asian exports, economists have said. Bloomberg reported that the region’s economy was seen weakening to 4.8 percent this year and 4.7 percent in 2020 from 5.3 percent last year, according to Oxford’s lead Asia economist Sian Fenner. Africa, meanwhile, has been largely ignored in the US-China trade war.
Indonesia, Jokowi said, is a true friend of African countries and stands ready to become partners to improve the welfare of African people by building infrastructure and boosting trade on the continent.
"Indonesia is ready to share experiences and help to build infrastructure. Indonesian [state-owned companies] and private companies have sufficient strength and experience,” he said.
The two-day 2019 IAID was attended by around 700 business leaders, policymakers, senior government officials and ministers, as well as other stakeholders from Indonesia and Africa. The participants discussed concrete efforts that could be made to improve economic diplomacy, connectivity, social infrastructure and tourism, energy and mining, financing schemes, as well as trade and development cooperation.
Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who is also the chair of the Indonesia-Africa infrastructure development task force, held a series of bilateral meetings with several African countries, including Equatorial Guinea and Madagascar, as well as with a representative from the African Union on Tuesday.
This year, Indonesia and African countries recorded dozens of business deals valued at US$822 million on infrastructure, textiles, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, financing, mining, transportation and commodity trading, a significant increase from last year’s deals worth $586 million, according to Luhut's office.
Indonesia has also launched negotiations for preferential trade agreements with Mauritius and Djibouti.
Indonesia's economic ties with African nations continues to see significant progress. Trade value between Indonesia and Africa reached more than Rp 156 trillion (US$11.06 billion) last year, a 25 percent increase from the previous year. More Indonesian companies have now entered Africa, with around 30 Indonesian companies investing in Africa, including 16 in Nigeria and five in Ethiopia.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the two-day IAID is a follow up to the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in 2018 -- both events provide strategic platforms for better cooperation between Indonesia and Africa, especially on infrastructure.
"Different from the past, the Foreign Affairs Ministry is now handling not only foreign policy, but also economic diplomacy. And in carrying out economic diplomacy, we involve technical ministries and even state-owned enterprises in a comprehensive mission," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said.
The event was concluded on Wednesday with Indonesia reiterating its commitment to initiating dialogues with Africa.
____________________________
... Indonesian trade in 2017 was more than 300 Billion USD. That means the entire continent is less then 5% of our trade value. Hopefully it'll accelerate even further after the diplomatic network expansion and after the Africans realise Indonesian companies are reliable, affordable, and ready to negotiate. As it stands I daresay many african nations are better clients compared to some of our traditional markets in southeast asia
