[Unpad.ac.id, 21/01/2016] New Asia-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) declaration formed during the 50th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference (KAA) is a new momentum to tighten cooperation with various countries in African region. Indonesia as the originator NAASP should move forward to collaborate more than just diplomatic relations with African region.
Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Africa Relations, Lasro Simbolon, Drs., MA., said that out of 54 countries in Africa, Indonesia has established diplomatic relations with 50 countries. “We currently have many opportunities to collaborate with Africa. Currently African countries are growing, “said Lasro during his speech at the International Seminar” Indonesia-Africa Relations “at the Museum of Asian-African Conference, Bandung, Thursday (21/01).
This seminar was held in cooperation with Agency for Assessment and Policy Development (IRB) of Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Asian-African Studies Center (PKAA) Universitas Padjadjaran. Alongside Lasro, other speakers in the event were Dadan Suryadiputra, S.IP., MI.Pol., (Lecturer in International Relations Universitas Padjadjaran), and Dr. Greg Mills (Director of Brenthurst Foundation).
Based on data from Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the trade volume of Indonesia to Africa currently only worth US$ 10.70 billion. The amount is lower than the value of China’s trade with India, which has reached US$ 20 billion for China and 70 billion for India.
Lasro mentioned African countries that currently have good potentials for partnership are South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Aljazair, and countries in The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC), Southern African Customs Union (SACU), East African Community (EAC), and The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
“This is pontential, considering Indonesia had been the initiator of reviving solidarity in the region of Asia and Afrika,” said Lasro.
Furthermore, Lasro said that there are sectors are potential for business partnership, including energy, agro-industry, construction and infrastructure, information, communication technology, and banking. In the energy sector, Lasro said, Indonesia can exchange views on management of energy resources with countries in Africa.
In the agro-industrial sector, Lasro believed African countries in the region are now paying attention to aspects of food security. This sector can be an intensive collaboration since Indonesia shares the same attention to the issues of food security and sustainable development.
One important aspect discussed by Lasro was also banking partnership. China and India have opened bank representatives in the African region countries. Meanwhile, Indonesia has not opened any bank representatives in Africa.
“The government must facilitate this,” added Lasro.
Same with Lasro, Dadan encouraged Indonesia to be more proactive in improving partnership with African countries. Reflecting on history, Indonesia has shared partnership with countries in the African region before.
Even so, public still has not full comprehension about Africa. This is due to the lack of interest in African theme in education sector. To be able to run optimally, government also needs to establish partnership with few Asian and African studies centers in Indonesia in order to provide academic guidance. *
Reported by Arief Maulana / eh
