Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
Indonesia has called for a stronger bilateral partnership with Nigeria as the trade volume between the two countries reached $2.46 billion, representing a 55 per cent growth in the last five years.
Mr Usra Harahap, Ambassador of Indonesia to Nigeria commended diplomatic relations between the countries, which he said had been built on mutual understanding, harmony, and a strong desire to gain positive development.
Mr Harahap said about 25 Indonesian companies had invested in Nigeria, a sign that the trade between the two countries kept increasing in the last six years.
“In 2016, it reached $1.59 billion and in 2021, it increased to $2.46 billion.
“Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, however, there has been a drastic decline from $2.34 billion in 2019 to $1.2 billion in 2020.
“The trade volume increased significantly in 2021 with Indonesia recording a deficit trade balance with increasing imports from Nigeria.
“Indonesia’s main exports to Nigeria are clothing, food, paper products, pharmaceuticals, electronics, plastics, soaps, and lubricating oils.
“Meanwhile, Indonesia’s main imports from Nigeria are petroleum products, cotton, cocoa, and hides and shin,” the ambassador said.
“The diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Nigeria began in 1965 with the opening of the Indonesian Embassy in Lagos, as well as the Nigerian Embassy in Jakarta, which opened in 1976,” he said.
“Indonesia is of the view that Nigeria is our strategic partner in Africa, as well as in the global arena; the two countries have a strong sense of responsibility to face regional and global challenges.
“It is unavoidable to uphold the priority of cooperation between Indonesia and Nigeria in various fields and mutual support in the international forum.
“The two countries still have to discuss certain issues of cooperation in the field of oil and gas, counter-terrorism, youth and sports, education, culture, fisheries, agriculture and defence cooperation deeper.
“Our Embassy will support Nigeria’s initiative to resume discussions on the Joint Commission between Nigeria and Indonesia, as a forum to address these particular issues.
“The first Joint Commission was held in Jakarta in 2013,” the envoy noted.
Mr Harahap also noted that both countries shared a lot in common through the D-8, which is an organisation for development cooperation among eight countries.
The Development-8 countries are Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
The ambassador also told newsmen that both countries would work closely together as D-8 member states to improve their position in the global economy and the standards of living of their citizens.
This would be based on the principles of peace, dialogue, cooperation, justice and equality, instead of discrimination and democracy, he explained.
He stressed that Indonesia and Nigeria remained committed to solving economic problems between both countries, stating the importance of the D-8’s contribution to economic development and the promotion of global trade.
