Bali – The 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) held in Bali has succeeded in becoming an important momentum for strengthening cooperation between Indonesia and African countries. This forum not only shows Indonesia’s commitment to global partnerships, but also confirms Indonesia’s strategic position as part of the Global South in encouraging inclusive and sustainable development.
President Joko Widodo emphasized the importance of cooperation between developing countries to face global challenges. “The spirit of the Global South is a key element that will differentiate our cooperation with African countries from other countries. We must work together to fight against discriminatory and protectionist policies that harm us, including in the environmental policy narrative,” Jokowi said.
The forum, which took place from 1 to 3 September, was attended by a number of heads of state and high-ranking officials from various African countries. In his remarks, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Pahala Mansury, emphasized that the historical closeness and cooperation that have been established since the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference will be strengthened again through this forum. “Indonesia and African countries have similar interests in strengthening collaboration in priority sectors such as food security, energy, health, and minerals,” said Pahala.
The 2nd IAF resulted in several important agreements, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a total value of US$ 3.5 billion. This agreement covers various strategic sectors that are expected to drive mutually beneficial economic growth. “This is a big step for Indonesia to diversify export markets, expand commodity supplies, and increase investment abroad,” Pahala added.
In the context of global leadership, Indonesia also utilized this forum to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening cross-sectoral solidarity. The Director of Foreign Policy and International Development Cooperation of the Ministry of PPN/Bappenas, Hendra Wahanu Prabandani, explained that the 2nd IAF was a continuation of Indonesia’s success in previous world forums. “This forum proves how Indonesia is able to build inclusive multi-party partnerships, which will be a catalyst for innovative solutions in facing global challenges,” explained Hendra.
With the successful implementation of the 2nd IAF, Indonesia once again demonstrated its role as a leader in international development cooperation, while strengthening its strategic position in the global arena. This forum is not only a place for dialogue, but also a platform to create new opportunities in diplomatic and economic relations between Indonesia and African countries.