Jakarta – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) held around four bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF MSP) and Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF), Bali on September 2, 2024. Jokowi reiterated the importance of solidarity with African countries and expanding opportunities for cooperation.
Jokowi met with Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to discuss three main sectors of cooperation to improve between Indonesia and Liberia. These include the palm oil sector.
The Presidential Palace, through a written statement, said that the palm oil sector faced some challenges, ranging from black campaigns launched in the West to the discriminatory policies of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). “Indonesia strives to fight against this negative campaign and hopes that Liberia continues to support it,” said Jokowi.
Jokowi and Boakai also discussed infrastructure cooperation, from the technical aspects of development, scholarships, and vocational training.
In a separate meeting with Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Jokowi highlighted health cooperation with Ghana.
Jokowi also proposed for Indonesia and Ghana to explore cooperation in the oil and gas sector, including an oil refinery in Ghana. The President hopes this cooperation can boost added value and meet Ghana’s energy requirements.
Jokowi emphasized blue economy cooperation during his meeting with Tanzanian President Zanzibar Hussein Ali Mwinyi. Indonesia is ready to be a strategic partner for Tanzania for its extensive experience in business management, marine tourism, and marine ecosystem conservation.
Meanwhile, when meeting with Zimbabwean Vice President Kembo Dugish Campbell Muleya Mohadi, Jokowi conveyed three main points, one of which concerned mining.
Indonesia, said Jokowi, is currently exploring cooperation in lithium mining in Zimbabwe. Jokowi assigned the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, to accelerate the finalization of lithium mining MoU in this regard.
Over 1,400 participants attended the IAF and MSP. It involved not only heads of state and ministers but also the private sector and state-owned enterprises. The forums focus on energy, health, food security, and mining sectors.
When delivering his speech at the forum on Monday morning, President Jokowi said Indonesia aims to be part of the solution amid a world full of challenges. Jokowi said developing countries bear the heaviest brunt of the increasing global fragmentation.
“Indonesia is committed to being part of the global solution, defending the interests of the Global South and bridging the fights for equality, justice, and solidarity to accelerate the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” said Jokowi. (*) Source: TEMPO.CO
