Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia Following the Bilateral Meeting Between Indonesia and Tanzania at Dar Es Salaam State House, the United Republic of Tanzania, August 22, 2023

Your Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan,

It is an honor for me to visit Tanzania for the first time. The historical root of Indonesia’s relations with African countries has remained very strong since the 1955 Asian-African Conference and the 1961 Non-aligned Movement. We must continue to strengthen ‘Bandung’ spirit for the solidarity of and collaboration between the Global South countries. We must continue to strengthen it. The Global South makes up 85 percent of the global population, thus the world is supposed to listen to the voice and interest of the Global South countries, including the rights to make development leaps.

During the meeting, we discussed several matters. First, Indonesia promotes the establishment of Preferential Trade Agreement to further optimize the potentials of the two countries’ bilateral trade, which rose by 20.7 percent in 2022.

Second, Indonesia wants to increase investment in Tanzania, including through Indonesia’s state-owned enterprise’s management of Mnazi Bay Gas Block and the processing of natural gas into chemicals and fertilizers. This cooperation is highly strategic and will strengthen the cooperation between developing countries. In addition, I proposed the establishment of Bilateral Investment Treaty to ensure the protection and continuity of investment of the two countries.

Third, Indonesia is committed to participating in the development of Tanzania’s health security. Indonesia’s pharmaceutical companies will export their first products in Tanzania as a form of contribution to fulfilling the demands for pharmaceutical products in Tanzania.

Fourth, Indonesia will walk the talk to realize a concrete collaboration with Africa. Indonesia is finalizing a grand design for the development of Africa for the next five years and one of the plans is revitalizing Farmer’s Agriculture and Rural Training Center in Morogoro, Tanzania.

And to conclude, I invite President Samia Hassan to visit Indonesia.

I thank you.

(DH/MUR)