REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla believes that Indonesia-Africa cooperation will have bright prospects, particularly in the fields of trade and investment. He said that while opening the Indonesia-Africa Forum at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, on Tuesday afternoon.

"If Indonesia and Africa successfully promote the cooperation, we can show the world that cooperation among developing nations can be realized," Kalla stated.

Through cooperation among developing nations or South-South cooperation, Indonesia and Africa have started the process of the success through the Indonesia-Africa forum, he added. "I strongly believe that the benefit of the South-South cooperation can be achieved through this forum and can be continued in the future," he remarked.

Industries in Indonesia and Africa can be encouraged to make progress through the existing human resources of the two regions, he revealed.

"With a worker-class or productive-age population of more than 400 million in Africa and Indonesia, the prospect of our economy will be very bright," he pointed out.

Data show that trade between Africa and Indonesia reached US$8.84 billion in 2017, up 15.25 percent compared to the year before.

Although the increase is relatively small, it shows a positive trend and significance to the bilateral trade. "Indonesia needs crude oil, cotton, and cocoa bean from Africa. Likewise, Africa needs palm oil, motor vehicles, and instant noodles," he noted.

Indonesia-Africa Forum is a forum for Indonesia and African governments and business agents to increase economic and trade cooperation.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika