Nigeria, Indonesia to strengthen bilateral relations 1st September 2024

Nigeria, Indonesia to strengthen bilateral relations 

Nigeria is set to deepen its bilateral relations with Indonesia as the Second Indonesia-Africa Forum kicks off in Bali from 1-3 September 2024.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, is leading Nigeria’s delegation to the forum, representing President Bola Tinubu.

The minister’s media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday.

The forum, themed “Bandung Spirit for Africa’s Agenda 2023,” pays homage to the historic 1955 Asian-African Conference, also known as the Bandung Conference, which was hosted by Indonesia. The event marked a new era of solidarity and collaboration between the two continents.

During the forum, Idris will showcase Nigeria’s vast investment opportunities across various sectors and highlight the socio-economic gains of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He is also expected to advocate for greater participation of Nigerian businesses in the Indonesian economy.

Speaking ahead of the forum, Idris expressed optimism, stating, “I look forward to representing His Excellency President Bola Tinubu and the government and people of Nigeria at the Second Indonesia Africa Forum, and also to the Forum turning out as yet another memorable milestone on the journey towards strengthened bonds between Indonesia on the one hand, and Nigeria and Africa on the other hand.”

The theme of this year’s forum seeks to align Indonesia’s Vision 2045 with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, emphasising the long-term goals of both regions.

Over the years, Nigeria and Indonesia have cultivated a robust relationship, highlighted by Indonesia’s decision to designate Nigeria as its primary African investment destination from 2022 to 2026, the statement disclosed.

This commitment is reflected in the growing trade between the two nations, which reached $6bn in 2023, up from $4bn a decade earlier.

In 2023, Indonesia also demonstrated its support for Nigeria by donating 1.58 million doses of the Pentavalent vaccine, valued at nearly $2m. The contribution has played a crucial role in Nigeria’s efforts to protect its children from life-threatening diseases.

“The volume of trade between the two countries was $6bn in 2023, up from $4bn a decade ago. Indonesia’s support to Nigeria includes the donation in 2023 of 1.58 million doses of the Pentavalent vaccine, valued at almost $2m, to Nigeria; a gesture that has been pivotal in Nigeria’s quest to ensure the protection of Nigeria’s children from life-threatening diseases,” Ibrahim stated.

PUNCH, 1st September 2024