Illustration: Dieng Geothermal Power Plant (Source: Heru Fajar Fitriana, Shutterstock)
Africa holds a strategic position for Indonesia as a region for diversification of market, investment, and commodities, also a means to enhance Indonesia's global presence. As a fellow member of the Global South, Africa shares a deep historical connection with Indonesia, rooted in the 'Bandung Spirit' that emerged from the 1955 Asian-African Conference hosted in Indonesia.
Looking ahead, Africa is poised to become an even more pivotal player on the global stage due to its vast reserves of oil, gas, and critical minerals, and its role as a major global commodity supplier.
"Africa is poised to assume a pivotal role as a global commodity powerhouse, endowed with substantial reserves of oil, gas, and critical minerals," stated Pahala Mansury, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.
As a fellow member of the Global South, Africa is a crucial partner in the global pursuit of sustainable development. The landmark 1955 Bandung Conference laid the groundwork for cooperation among developing nations, especially between Asia and Africa.
The spirit of solidarity and cooperation fostered by this conference has been the cornerstone of Indonesia's bilateral relations with African nations.
Post Asian-African Conference
In the aftermath of the Bandung Conference, Indonesia has maintained an active engagement in various international forums alongside African nations. Bilateral ties have deepened, particularly in the political, economic, and socio-cultural sectors.
Indonesia has been an unyielding advocate for decolonization efforts in Africa, providing unwavering support to African nations in their struggle for independence.
Furthermore, Indonesia and African countries collaborate in various international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
To strengthen these existing partnerships, Indonesia has initiated the Indonesia Africa Forum (IAF). This forum aims to enhance cooperation in various fields, including trade, investment, infrastructure, and capacity building. The IAF was held in 2018 and for the second time in 2024.
Through the IAF, Indonesia and African countries are strengthening diplomatic relations and economic cooperation. Efforts to create new business opportunities for Indonesian and African entrepreneurs, as well as to encourage investment to and from African countries, have been undertaken.
This is evidenced by the increasing trade value between Indonesia and Africa year on year.
Future Challenges and Opportunities
Despite significant progress, many challenges remain in strengthening cooperation between Indonesia and African countries.
Therefore, the IAF 2024 is designed as a catalyst for change, where ideas and concepts are expected to be transformed into tangible actions.
The priority sectors that are the main focus of this year's Indonesia Africa Forum include economic transformation, energy and mining, food security, health, and development cooperation. The Director General for Asia-Pacific and African Affairs at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Kadir Jailani, announced that the forum is projected to generate business deals worth a significant US$3.5 billion, representing an increase of more than 600 percent compared to the previous forum.
This year, the IAF is focused on several key sectors: food, energy, health, and minerals. The consistent growth in economic cooperation between Indonesia and Africa highlights the increasing strategic partnership between the two regions.
Existing business collaborations have included the export of vaccines to 41 African nations, the establishment of an instant noodle manufacturing plant in Nigeria, the processing of clove essential oil in Zanzibar, and the export of Indonesian agricultural implements and fertilizers to several African countries.
In this year's forum, Abdul Kadir announced several new economic cooperation initiatives. These include a geothermal development project between PLN and Tanzania's Tanesco; a health technology transfer partnership between Biofarma and Ghana's Atlantic Lifescience; a pharmaceutical collaboration between Biofarma and Zimbabwe's Nacfarm; and a vaccine technology transfer agreement between Biofarma and Kenya's Biofac.