VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi held bilateral talks with her Madagascan counterpart, Henry Rabary-Njaka, on the sidelines of Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) at the Nusa Dua Bali Convention Center on Tuesday.

"I have just held talks with the Madagascan foreign minister. At the meeting, we discussed several important issues. First, we discussed the Madagascan government`s plan to open its embassy in Indonesia," Retno said.

The second thing discussed at the meeting was the ways to strengthen economic and agricultural cooperation and explore the possibility of cooperation in palm oil plantation in Madagascar.

"The third thing we have discussed is a plan to realize a joint commission as soon as possible. We will implement a joint commission and discuss concrete cooperation that can be strengthened in the future," he said.

At the meeting, Minister Retno also lauded the Madagascan government`s support for Indonesia`s bid for non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for the 2019-2020 term. Meanwhile, Minister Henry Rabary-Njaka noted the effort made by the two countries to look into the possibility of agricultural cooperation including palm oil production.

"We have prepared two thousand hectares of land in Madagascar. But at my meeting with local palm oil companies they need 20,000 hectares of land," he said.

He further expressed his country`s keen interest to join the Council of Palm Oil Producer Countries (CPOPC). (antara)

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is optimistic that air connectivity between Indonesia and Ethiopia will open wider opportunities to enhance economic ties between Indonesia and Africa.

"The air connectivity will serve as a new start. We still have one. We want to have more," Marsudi said at a panel discussion of the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) held at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center on Tuesday.

At the first ever IAF, GMF AeroAsia signed cooperation agreements with Max Air and Ethiopian Airlines. In total, 10 cooperation agreements including those from the aviation industry were signed with a total value of US$586.56 million during the IAF 2018. With the signing of the cooperation agreements in the air transportation sector, trade between Indonesia and Africa will hopefully increase. Although the value of Indonesia-Africa trade is still not too large, it grew significantly to US$8 billion last year, up 15 percent compared to the year before.

African countries export crude oil, cotton, and cocoa bean to Indonesia, while their imports from Indonesia include motor vehicles, palm oil and instant noodle.  Indonesia wants to be part of development in Africa, while on the other hand it wants the continent to be part of its development, she said. During the IAF, an exhibition was also held to display a wide range of products from Indonesia`s state-owned and privately-run companies.

The forum brought together 500 delegates comprising government officials, business agents and other stakeholders from both Africa and Indonesia. (antara)

State aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) has signed a contract worth US$75 million with the air forces of Senegal and Ivory Coast for the sale of CN-235 and NC-212 aircraft.

"The African market is promising, as it comprises several countries. Geographically, African countries and Indonesia have similarities, so they need several light and medium turboprop aircraft," PTDI President Director Elfien Goentoro stated at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center on Tuesday.

Goentoro signed the contract with Belgian air defense commercial company Gaby Peretz in the capacity as business partner of the two African countries on the sidelines of the Indonesia-Africa Forum 2018 at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center. Under the contract, PTDI will sell NC-212-200 aircraft used for maritime surveillance and a CN-235-220 aircraft for maritime patrolling to the Senegalese Air Force and a CN-235-220 for military transportation to the Ivory Coast Air Force. Goentoro noted that both sides will further sign a contract for the sale of the aircraft in July or August 2018. PTDI is expected to deliver the aircraft to the two air forces in a year and a half.

On Dec 27 last year, PTDI had also delivered a CN-235-220 aircraft ordered by the Senegalese Air Force. The multi-purpose aircraft left the Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung for Dakar, Senegal. Senegal signed another contract with PTDI on August 8, 2017, for the purchase of a CN235-220 aircraft for its Air Force to conduct maritime patrols. Apart from Senegal, Burkina Faso and Guinea have also used CN-235s. (antara)

The Foreign Ministries of Indonesia and Ethiopia held the first Bilateral Consultative Forum (FKB) in Bali on Monday (April 9). The forum was chaired by the Director General for Asia Pacific and Africa of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Desra Percaya, and the Director General of Asia and Oceania of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tsegab Kebebew. The Indonesia-Ethiopian Forum is held ahead of the implementation of Indonesia Africa Forum (IAF) on April 10 and 11, 2018, in Nusa Dua, Bali. The following forum is scheduled to be held in Ethiopia.

"The first Indonesia-Ethiopian Bilateral Consultative Forum is an implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed by both ministers in January 2015. It aims to address issues of mutual interest in order to enhance bilateral cooperation," Percaya noted.

According to him, in the political field, the two sides have noted an increase in mutual visits since the opening of the Ethiopian Embassy in Jakarta in 2016. Furthermore, the governments of both countries have agreed to encourage high-level visits and expedite the completion of the Visa Free Agreement for both Office and Diplomatic Passport Holders.

Recognizing the declining trend in RI-Ethiopia trade, both governments have also agreed to encourage trade cooperation and explore strategic industry cooperation. The two sides also appreciated the progress of opening the Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jakarta in 2018, which will be the first direct flight between Indonesia and Africa. The flight is expected to increase connectivity between Indonesia and Ethiopia, as well as Africa, in general.

In the socio-cultural field, the two sides have agreed to improve cooperation in education and human resources, including by accelerating the finalization of the MoU on cooperation between education and training centers of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of RI and Ethiopia.

At the forum, the Indonesian government stated that the peace and security in Africa is one of Indonesia`s top priorities, which is realized through Indonesia`s contribution to UN peacekeeping missions in the African region. The Ethiopian Government appreciates Indonesia`s role and support in ensuring sustainable peace in Africa and expressed support for Indonesia`s nomination as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2019-2020. (antara)