Caption: The Director General for Asia Pacific and Africa Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Kadir Jailani,, during a press conference regarding the readiness of the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF MSP) and Indonesia Africa Forum (IAF) II in Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali, on Sunday, September 1, 2024. (Source: IAF II-HLF MSP Media Center/Ari Bowo Sucipto/YU)
The relationship between Indonesia and Africa has been well-established for a long time. During the presidency of Sukarno, Indonesia initiave convene the Asian-African Conference in 1955.
The Asian-African Conference 1955 (AAC) stands as a pivotal moment in history to foster global solidarity in opposing colonialism and to facilitate economic and cultural collaboration among the recently liberated states.
The Conference that was initiated by Indonesia, proved successful in uniting Asian and African nations, which paved the way for future cooperation, culminating in the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement and, more recently, the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) in 2005.
Through various diplomatic engagements, Indonesia has consistently upheld its commitment to strengthening ties with Asian and African nations. This commitment was underscored during the commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Asian-African Conference in 2015, where delegates reaffirmed their dedication to fostering stronger, more inclusive, and sustainable partnerships.
Furthermore, in 2018, Indonesia took the initiative to organize another international forum to engage with African nations, known as the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF). The inaugural IAF in 2018 established a cornerstone for Indonesia's cooperation with African countries, building upon the solid foundation laid rooted in the shared principles and commitments of the 1955 Asian-African Conference.
The inaugural IAF in 2018 became one of the main structures of cooperation between Indonesia and African countries, with a solid foundation, because it was based on the agreement and commitment at the AAC in 1955. This collaborative effort involved a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including government entities, businesses, and other private sector actors.
Indonesia Africa Forum II 2024
Building on the success of the 2018 Indonesia Africa Forum, the Indonesian Government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is proud to announce the Indonesia Africa Forum (IAF) II and in conjunction with the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF MSP) from September 1–3, 2024, in Nusa Dua, Bali, further strengthening our partnerships with African nations.
Abdul Kadir Jailani, General Director for Asia, Pacific, and Africa (Aspasaf) of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that the significant increase in cooperation commitments serves as a robust indicator of the enduring trust between Indonesia and the nations of Africa.
"The second Indonesia Africa Forum (IAF) has yielded substantial results, with the total value of cooperation commitments between Indonesia and African nations reaching a significant figure of US$3.5 billion. This represents a substantial increase compared to the US$568 million achieved during the inaugural forum in 2018," remarked Abdul Kadir in a statement delivered at the Media Center of the 2024 HLF MSP and the second IAF in BNDCC, Nusa Dua, Bali on Sunday (1/9/2024).
The IAF II has been marked by the signing of several significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and strategic cooperation agreements. Notable among these are the geothermal energy development project between PT PLN and TANESCO Tanzania, the Master Agreement on health technology transfer between Biofarma and Atlantic Lifescience Ghana, and the Letter of Intent (LOI) between PT Dirgantara Indonesia and AD Trade for the facilitation of aircraft purchases and maintenance for Congo and Senegal.
The IAF II brought together over 1,400 participants, including heads of state, ministers, business leaders, and academics. The event proved to be a highly successful platform for fostering concrete partnerships in four key cooperation sectors: energy, food security, health, and minerals.