Breakthrough at IAF 2024: Indonesia’s Health Sector a Magnet for US$94.1 Million Investment
Bali – In the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF MSP) and the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) Joint Leaders Session 2024, Indonesia recorded a significant achievement by agreeing to invest in the health sector worth US$94.1 million.
This information was conveyed by Dewi Justicia Meidiwaty, Director of Africa at the Directorate General of Asia, Pacific and Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu), on Monday, September 2, 2024, in Nusa Dua, Bali.
“This agreement was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indonesia and several African countries,” he said.
The countries involved in this agreement include Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa and Namibia.
Dewi also revealed that a number of well-known Indonesian companies participated in this collaboration. Among these companies are PT Biofarma, Biofarma Group, Dexa Medica, Triton, and PT Pertiwi Agung which is part of the Mensa Group.
Indonesia through PT Bio Farma (Persero), has established strategic cooperation with Zimbabwe and Ghana. In Zimbabwe, Biofarma signed an MoU with Natpharm Zimbabwe in the sector of product registration, distribution, and marketing of pharmaceutical products. While in Ghana, Biofarma will conduct technology transfer with Atlantic Life Sciences for staff training from Ghana in Bandung as well as bulk API delivery.
In addition, PT Dexa Medica will conduct its first export of pharmaceutical products to Tanzania in 2023, with a projected export value of US$2.5-3 million in the next three years. On the other hand, PT Triton Manufactures is procuring syringes for South Africa. Meanwhile, PT Pertiwi Agung (Mensa Group) has successfully signed an agreement to purchase instant energy drinks in Namibia.
This cooperation was established based on the spirit of Bandung, which prioritizes solidarity and cooperation between Asian and African countries since the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference. With this spirit, Indonesia and African countries continue to strengthen bilateral relations, not only in the health sector, but also in various other mutually beneficial fields.
Previously, the Indonesian Government also successfully explored opportunities for collaboration and development cooperation in the digital sector with Egypt.
This was revealed by the Minister of Communication and Informatics (Menkominfo) Budi Arie Setiadi when he met the Egyptian Minister of Information Technology and Communication Amr Talaat at the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF-MSP) and the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) Joint Leaders Session 2024, at Pecatu Hall, Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, Bali.
“Today’s bilateral meeting aims to explore the potential for cooperation in developing digital infrastructure and increasing the capacity of the younger generation in both countries,” explained the Minister of Communication and Information.
The Minister of Communication and Information explained Indonesia’s various efforts and achievements in developing digital infrastructure with coverage of almost 98 percent of the national population at the meeting, where currently 177,000 kilometers of Fiber Optic Cable, 34 Data Centers, and 265,900 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) including 1,000 5G BTS have been built.
According to the Minister of Communication and Information, there are similarities in policies and management of information and communication technology issues in Egypt involving various ministries and institutions.
“Egypt’s ICT policy focuses on three main pillars, namely digital transformation, digital skills and jobs, and digital innovation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Amr Talaat conveyed the appreciation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi for the warm welcome of the Indonesian Government.
According to him, strategic and historical relations have existed between Egypt and Indonesia.
