VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation and the launching of Road to Africa book on the sidelines of Indonesia Africa Forum on Tuesday in Nusa Dua Bali. Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said she welcomed the launch of the book to provide a map of direction in identifying the potential for developing trade cooperation between Indonesia and countries of the African continent.

The Finance Minister said Indonesia needed new efforts to improve competitiveness and productivity to spur higher and more equitable economic growth.

She hopes that the launch of the Road to Africa book will become an early stub which will be further refined, so that the people of Indonesia and all parties can find the best potential to enhance trade relations with Africa.

"This is a great initiative. As we know that to be able to increase Indonesia’s economic growth to be more equitable and inclusive, it is our role to encourage investment and exports. We may need to put more emphasis on competitiveness and productivity and start to enter new markets and commodities. The book Road to Africa can provide a map that can be used by all parties, especially private sector. And by LPEI to identify potentials of commodities as well as targeted markets," Minister Retno said.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati further said she hoped that Road to Africa book could be developed by involving many parties including academic community. She said the development was done to not only identify export potential but also market development efforts.

She also hopes that the Indonesian Export Financing Institution (LPEI) can use its instruments to support export interest and potential, so that Indonesian companies increasingly get the convenience to reach the market in Africa. (VOI/Andy/AHM)