By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi
Accra, Oct. 17, GNA – Ghana and the Republic of Indonesia have committed to strengthen bilateral ties in key sectors of their economies as they deepen 65 years of relationship.
The key sectors for the bilateral engagement are health, oil and gas, and development cooperation and the decision is part of efforts to harness opportunities for their populations, bolster diplomatic and economic ties between Africa and Indonesia.
The bilateral goal was made when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo met with the Indonesian President H E Joko Widodo at the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in Bali, Indonesia.
The forum, held under the theme “Bandung Spirit for Africa’s Agenda 2063,” highlighted the shared values of cooperation and mutual development between Indonesia and Africa, reinforcing their joint agenda of economic empowerment.
It was attended by several Heads of State from Africa, including the delegation of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the President of Liberia Joseph Nyuma Boakai, led by H E Paskal Rois, Honorary Consul for the Republic of Indonesia in Ghana.
President Widodo in a meeting with President Akufo-Addo, commended the collaboration between Bio Farma, Indonesia’s state-owned pharmaceutical company and Atlantic Life Sciences in Ghana to promote local vaccine production and enhance vaccination programmes across Africa.
He proposed exploring partnerships in oil exploration and refining, with Indonesia ready to support Ghana in establishing an oil refinery, to ameliorate Ghana’s energy sector to meet local energy demands.
President Widodo said Indonesia was willing to support Ghana through its Indonesia Aid Mechanism and that would include giving technical support, scholarships, and vocational training programmes tailored to Ghana’s specific needs.
President Akufo-Addo expressed his gratitude for Indonesia’s continued support, lauding the collaboration shown, particularly in vaccine production.
Both leaders also discussed signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on food and drug supervision, which would further strengthen cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector.
Liberian President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai in a similar bilateral meeting with President Widodo, talked about new areas of cooperation, particularly in palm oil, infrastructure development to mark a new chapter in nearly 60 years of Indonesia-Liberia relations.
President Widodo said Indonesia was ready to support Liberia in overcoming challenges related to palm oil, channeling their expertise to Liberia’s infrastructure development and advancing development cooperation through scholarships, vocational training, and technical support.
He said Indonesia and Liberia would work closely to promote sustainable growth in the agricultural and industrial sectors with a signing of a cooperation agreement between Andi Amran Sulaiman, Indonesian Agriculture Minister and his Liberian counterpart, Alexander Nuetah.
Mr Paskal A.B. Rois said the agreement focused on improving Liberia’s agricultural sector by leveraging Indonesia’s technological advancements, adding that Ghana and Liberia’s participation in the forum help leverage Indonesia’s growing expertise in sectors such as technology and education.
“Indonesia is committed to assisting African countries in their growth trajectories, mirroring Indonesia’s rapid development. As a serial entrepreneur, I encourage African entrepreneurs to take advantage of the next IAF to forge business partnerships with Indonesia, to expand their businesses and explore new markets,” Mr Rois said.
GNA