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PRESIDENT Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) 2024 has recorded business deals worth US$3.5 billion.
The president conveyed this in his remarks at the opening of the High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Partnership (HLF-MSP) Joint Leaders’ Session and the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) 2024 session in Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali, on Monday (09/2), 2024.
“This year’s Indonesia-Africa Forum has recorded business deals worth US$3.5 billion, almost six times higher than the first IAF in 2018,” he stated.
Jokowi then highlighted Indonesia’s readiness to partner with any party, especially with the African region, as the key to the global development agenda.
According to the president, the results of the Indonesia-Africa partnership have been proven positive, ushering in a large increase in trade volume and various trade agreements. Apart from attending and opening the HLF-MSP and IAF 2024, the head of state is also scheduled to conduct several bilateral meetings with leaders of the attending countries.
On that occasion, the president also emphasized that the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must remain the main focus of global development, which is aligned with national and regional development priorities, including the 2063 Africa agenda and supported by multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Jokowi then echoed Indonesia’s commitment to being part of the global solution, defending the interests of the Global South, as well as being a bridge builder in fighting for equality, justice, and solidarity in accelerating the achievement of SDGs.
Moreover, the president accentuated the importance of reviving global solidarity to enhance South-South cooperation and intensify North-South cooperation in order to complement each other and realize mutual work to overcome global challenges.
The HLF-MSP and the 2nd IAF are being held in Badung, Bali, on September 1-3, 2024, to intensify economic cooperation with African countries.
The forum presents “Bandung Spirit for Africa’s Agenda 2063” as the theme to serve as a foundation for building cooperation between Indonesia and African countries in the future. Cooperation in economic transformation, energy, mining, food security, health, and development, among others, will be prioritized at the forum. [antaranews]
