INDUSTRY.co.id - Nusa Dua - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at the opening of the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) told African representatives that Indonesia wants to play a role and be a part of development in African countries.

"Indonesia wants to be a part of development in Africa, and instead Indonesia wants Africa to be part of development in Indonesia," said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at Nusa Dua Bali Convention Center on Tuesday (10/4/2018)

The Indonesian Foreign Minister said that the Indonesian government has been studying the vision of Africa 2063 and monitoring the progress of the African Free Trade Continent.

According to Foreign Minister Retno, the exhibition held on the sidelines of the Indonesia-Africa Forum will briefly display the potentials that can be developed through cooperation between Indonesia and African countries.

"Thank you very much for your participation in this forum. Please take advantage of this forum to develop all the potential and possibilities of economic cooperation between us" he said.

In a series of IAF activities on Tuesday (10/4) there will be a panel of discussions between Indonesia and African countries on policy making and perspectives on strategic topics such as economic diplomacy, infrastructure development, financing facility initiatives, digital transformation, strategic industries.

Furthermore, on the second day of the IAF on Wednesday (11/4) there will be an Indonesia-Africa Business Forum to discuss important topics such as connectivity, digital economy, agriculture, small and medium enterprises (UKM), South-South and Triangular , and the future of Indonesia-Africa economic relations.

Throughout the forum, ministers, high officials, CEOs, bankers, and leaders of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Indonesia and African countries will discuss and exchange ideas.

"I am glad that a number of Indonesian state-owned companies participated in this forum, including Pertamina, PT Inka, PT Dirgantara Indonesia, PT PAL, PT TIMAH, and many others," said Foreign Minister Retno.

The Foreign Minister also welcomed the CEOs and business representatives from Africa, including Ethiopian Airlines, Topwide Ventures Limited, Africa Export-Import Bank, Amirco Commercial Service.

The IAF is an event held for the first time by the Indonesian government as a platform to encourage concrete economic cooperation between Indonesia and African countries.

IAF is in line with President Joko Widodo's encouragement for Indonesia to enter non-traditional markets, especially Africa. The Government of Indonesia seeks to convert the proximity of Indonesia's political relations with African countries to the proximity of economic relations.

President Joko Widodo earlier on the sidelines of the G20 meeting said that Indonesia is committed to increasing political ties with Africa into a concrete economic cooperation relationship.

In the IAF 2018 it is expected that there will be several breakthroughs of economic cooperation between Indonesia and several African countries, such as the signing of a business deal. (Ant)