The Honorary Consul for the Republic of Indonesia in Ghana, Paskal Rois, has made a significant move to bolster diplomatic and economic ties between Africa and Indonesia.

He led a delegation comprising the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the President of Liberia, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, to attend the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in Bali, Indonesia.

The forum, held under the theme: ‘Bandung Spirit for Africa’s Agenda 2063’, highlighted the shared values of cooperation and mutual development between Indonesia and Africa, reinforcing their joint agenda of economic empowerment.

The IAF, instituted in 2018, is a strategic platform designed to enhance economic cooperation between Indonesia and Africa, that shares a common complementary trade interests.

This year’s forum, officiated by Indonesian President H.E. Joko Widodo, brought together African heads of state, high-ranking government officials, and business leaders.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties: Indonesia-Ghana

During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the forum, President Widodo and President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening the 65-year-old relationship between Indonesia and Ghana.

President Widodo identified three key sectors — health, oil and gas, and development cooperation — as the main areas of focus to strengthen their bilateral engagement.

He highlighted the existing collaboration between Bio Farma, Indonesia’s state-owned pharmaceutical company, and Atlantic Life Sciences in Ghana, which aims to encourage local vaccine production and enhance vaccination programs across Africa.

Both leaders also discussed signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on food and drug supervision, which would further strengthen cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector.

President Widodo proposed exploring partnerships in oil exploration and refining, with Indonesia showing readiness to support Ghana in establishing an oil refinery, to ameliorate Ghana’s energy sector to meet local energy demands.

Indonesia, on the other hand, expressed willingness to support Ghana through its Indonesia Aid mechanism. This would include technical support, scholarships, and vocational training programs tailored to Ghana’s specific needs.

President Akufo-Addo, in response, expressed gratitude for Indonesia’s continued support and lauded the collaboration, particularly in vaccine production.

Indonesia-Liberia: A Renewed Partnership

The bilateral meeting between President Widodo and Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai marked a new chapter in nearly 60 years of Indonesia-Liberia relations.

During the meeting, both leaders expressed optimism about exploring new areas of cooperation, particularly in palm oil, infrastructure, and development.

President Widodo expressed Indonesia’s readiness to support Liberia in overcoming challenges related to palm oil, which has faced various hurdles, including negative campaigns from the West.

The Indonesian government also pledged to enhance Liberia’s infrastructure development by sharing its expertise and experience in building world-class infrastructure.

Furthermore, both countries committed to advancing development cooperation through scholarships, vocational training, and technical support.

President Widodo reiterated Indonesia’s willingness to work closely with Liberia to promote sustainable growth in the agricultural and industrial sectors.

Agricultural Cooperation: Indonesia and Liberia

The forum also witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between Indonesian Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman and his Liberian counterpart, Alexander Nuetah.

The agreement focuses on improving Liberia’s agricultural sector by leveraging Indonesia’s technological advancements.

Liberia, inspired by Indonesia’s success in achieving rice self-sufficiency, seeks to replicate similar strategies with Indonesian assistance.

A Broader Africa-Indonesia Vision

H.E. Paskal A.B. Rois, who played a crucial role in organizing Ghana and Liberia’s participation in the forum, underscored the importance of leveraging Indonesia’s growing expertise in various sectors such as technology and education.

He emphasized the willingness of Indonesia to assist African countries in their growth trajectories, mirroring Indonesia’s rapid development.

“As a serial entrepreneur, I encourage African entrepreneurs to take advantage of the next IAF to forge business partnerships with Indonesia. The forum is a gateway for entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses and explore new markets,” Rois stated.

He further expressed his excitement about the new opportunities created at the IAF, noting that the discussions and agreements would have a lasting impact on Africa-Indonesia relations.

H.E. Rois is optimistic that both Ghana and Liberia will significantly benefit from technology transfers and capacity-building programs that are set to follow the forum’s outcomes.

The 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum has been a remarkable success, bringing together heads of state, diplomats, and business leaders from both regions to discuss and formalize new economic and political partnerships.

As Ghana and Liberia continue to strengthen their ties with Indonesia, the forum has proven to be a critical platform for fostering long-lasting relationships and expanding the scope of cooperation across key sectors.

With future forums already in the works, Africa and Indonesia are set to explore new horizons together, with shared goals of sustainable development, prosperity, and mutual progress.

The partnerships initiated at this year’s IAF will undoubtedly shape the future of Indonesia-Africa relations, creating a solid foundation for ongoing collaboration.

The next IAF promises to be even more transformative, with more African countries expected to participate and further advance their economic and strategic interests with Indonesia.

The ongoing dialogue and cooperation are sure to open doors to new opportunities for both regions.