Indonesia and Tanzania have deepened their bilateral ties following a recent meeting between their leaders, marking significant progress in areas such as trade, investment, human resources development, and healthcare.
During Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s inaugural working visit to Indonesia, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to fostering concrete cooperation across various sectors. President Joko Widodo highlighted the strengthened friendship between the two countries, emphasizing their mutual agreement to enhance collaboration during a joint press statement.
An integral component of this enhanced partnership is the establishment of a preferential trade agreement aimed at boosting bilateral trade, with negotiations slated to commence this year. President Widodo also underscored the shared commitment to bolster cooperation in the oil and gas sector, including expanding collaboration between Indonesia’s state-owned oil and gas company, PT Pertamina, and Tanzania’s Mnazi Bay Development Area. Additionally, efforts will be made to provide training opportunities for employees of the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation.
Indonesia has pledged support for the revitalization of the Farmer’s Agriculture and Rural Training Center in Morogoro, Tanzania, and intends to offer human resources development training in various sectors. President Widodo urged Indonesian pharmaceutical companies to address medical needs in Tanzania, further solidifying bilateral cooperation in healthcare.
Looking ahead, President Widodo expressed optimism about Tanzania’s participation in the upcoming second Indonesia-Africa Forum, emphasizing its role in strengthening South-South cooperation. The forum serves as a platform for enhancing ties between Indonesia and African nations, with Tanzania identified as a key partner in this endeavour.