VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesia-Africa Forum –IAF was officially opened by Vice President, Jusuf Kalla in Nusa Dua, Bali on Tuesday (April 10, 2018). The two-day forum was the first held between Indonesia and 47 African countries.

Organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the IAF was also supported by Ministry of Trade. The event was attended by 575 delegates from 47 African and the African Union , consisted of policymakers, state-owned enterprises -BUMN, and the private sectors.

The Indonesia-Africa Forum is a platform for governments and businesspeople of Indonesia and African countries to explore and enhance economic and trade cooperation. Besides promoting investment and technical cooperation, the IAF is in line with the efforts of the Ministry of Trade in applying diversification of export products to non-traditional markets, such as African countries.

Based on the records of the Ministry of Trade, the total trade between Indonesia and Africa in 2017 reached $8.85 billion dollars. This value increased by 15.49 percent compared to that of the previous year. The products exported to Africa include palm oil, textiles and textile products, paper, soap, and coffee.

On the first day of the Indonesia-Africa Forum, 10 economic cooperation agreements were signed with a trade value reaching over $586 million dollars. In addition, business plans were announced by 11 companies in Africa with potential trade worth about $1, 3 billion dollars. 

Until the second day, Indonesia-Africa Forum -IAF managed to increase the value of trade transactions about $500 million dollars. The total potential trade agreement for the two-day event amounts to $2.3 billion dollars.

Seeing the potential cooperation that can be developed between Indonesia and countries in Africa, it is natural that this event is expected to be held regularly. The Indonesia-Africa Forum is an effective place to explore the African market which is now a new promising one for Indonesian trade. However above all, there needs synergic cooperation among the stakeholders in boosting Indonesian trade in the African market.

Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arcandra Tahar has encouraged Norway to invest in Indonesia`s new and renewable energy (EBT) sector.

"We have to work hard to increase the share of renewable energy use at affordable prices, and we have set an ambitious target to provide 23 percent of the energy mix from renewable energy by 2025," Arcandra Tahar stated while opening the Indonesia-Norway Energy Workshop in Jakarta on Thursday.

He noted that the trend of energy use in the world has begun to shift from fossil energy sources to EBT sources. In line with this, the Government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, expressed its seriousness in the development of EBT. The ministry demonstrated its commitment by targeting 23 percent EBT in its energy mix for power plants by 2025. To achieve the 23 percent target is not something easy, as it needs strong efforts and assistance from investors, both at home and abroad.

Tahar explained that in order to achieve the 23 percent target, the government has made various efforts, including formulating regulations and tariffs to attract private investors to invest more in renewable energy projects. Tahar also asserted that other parties, including investors both from within the country and abroad, are required to develop progressive renewable energy.

"We ensure that energy development, especially renewable energy, requires foreign investment and cooperation with other countries. It is important for Indonesia and other countries to work together to achieve mutual benefits," the deputy minister noted.

Tahar is encouraging the private sector, including Norwegian investors, to participate in the development of renewable energy in Indonesia, especially in eastern Indonesia, to help the government meet the people`s energy needs.

Director of Multifarious EBT Harris believes that cooperation to develop renewable energy with Norway was the right step forward. Norway has experience in the development of hydropower as energy. Some 98 percent of Norway`s energy requirements are derived from hydroelectric power. Harris further explained that Norway also had the ability to produce EBT-based power generators, such as power plants, wind, water, and solar.

"We invite them to invest their funds in our renewable generation sector, especially those based on hydropower, diesel, wind, and waste," Harris stated.

"If the Norwegians are interested in developing renewable energy in Indonesia, it would be good," Harris added. ( antara )

 Indonesian tin mining company PT Timah Tbk will invest US$26 million or equivalent to Rp356.2 billion to realize the business expansion of the state-owned enterprise in Nigeria.

"The total value of its first phase of cooperation this year with a mining company in Nigeria amounts to $26 million," PT Timah Tbk`s President Director Mochtar Riza Pahlevi Tabrani said in Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Province on, Thursday. 

Tabrani was optimistic the presence of PT Timah in Nigeria would open up cooperation opportunities in other forms, especially in the mining and exploration sectors, to supplement the reserves that are being maximized by the mining holding.

"We continue to focus on working on strategic steps to realize the company`s expansion in Nigeria. This is a serious measure taken by Indonesia to enhance economic ties with African countries," he remarked.

Meanwhile, PT Timah`s Corporate Secretary Amin Haris Sugiarto stated the $26-million investment was a follow-up to the signing of an agreement in December 2017 with Nigeria`s Topwide Venture Ltd.

"We will establish a joint venture company (JV Co) soon, which will be the company`s operational representative in Nigeria," he confirmed.

The formation of the JV CO, PT Timah, along with Topwide Venture Ltd, will optimize the mining concession area of 16,000 hectares, he stressed.

"The first phase of production is expected to reach 5,000 metric tons per year. This amount will increase reserves and will make PT Timah the world`s number one tin producer," Amin noted. (antara)